October 30, 2009 Search continues for midair crash survivors Play video

(NECN/KFMB: San Diego, Calif.) - A Marine spokesman said the attack helicopter that collided with a Coast Guard plane was one of four flying in formation to deliver Marines to a training island.

The collision occurred off Southern California Thursday evening at 7:10.

"We're still in a search and rescue phase; our thoughts and our prayers are with the families, with the friends and with the shipmates of the people we continue to look for," Rear Admiral Joseph Castillo said. "We're working with the families up at Air Station Sacramento where they're from to make certain that they have the best information available about what's going on."

On Friday, Marine spokesman Major Jay Delarosa said two AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters were escorting two heavy lift CH-53E transport helicopters carrying Marines to San Clemente Island Thursday night.

"When these pilots train and they fly over water, they obviously have safety equipment but I don't know to what extent, but they have to be trained in certain skills before they fly over water and that also accompanies with a variety of survival equipment that they have to have on them as they transit over water," Major Delarosa said.

The Federal Aviation Administration says the collision occurred minutes after control of the Coast Guard C-130 was handed off from FAA controllers to military air controllers.

All seven people aboard the Coast Guard plane and the two-person crew of the Marine

"Our people are very highly trained in survival techniques; they are very highly fit, physically fit. They are able to survive things that you would otherwise be surprised at," Rear Admiral Castillo said.

A search continues along a debris field 50 miles off the San Diego coast.

Video courtesy of KFMB.