Crews seek survivors in Calif. Marine crash

A top Coast Guard officer says crews will keep searching for survivors among nine military personnel aboard

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A top Coast Guard officer says crews will keep searching the Pacific for survivors among nine military personnel aboard a Coast Guard plane and a Marine Corps helicopter that collided in midair nearly two days ago.

Rear Adm. Joseph Castillo said Saturday afternoon that there was a chance of life because the missing crew members could have been wearing dry suits and were in excellent physical condition.

He said rescue teams will evaluate the operation overnight and decide Sunday whether it would continue as a survivor search or become one of recovery.

The Coast Guard C-130 with seven crew members aboard collided shortly after 7 p.m. (PDT) Thursday with the Marine helicopter carrying two people, about 50 miles off the southern California coast.

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