Plane, helicopter collide off California coast; 9 missing

(CNN) — A Coast Guard plane collided with a Marine helicopter over the Pacific Ocean near Southern California on Thursday evening, officials said. Nine people total were missing from the aircraft, and rescuers were combing the area where the collision occurred, aviation and rescue officials said. A pilot reported seeing a fireball about 7:10 p.m. near the crash site, which is about 25 miles east of San Clemente Island. FAA officials said a Coast Guard C-130 plane carrying seven people collided with a Marine Corps AH-1 Cobra helicopter carrying two people. U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Josh Nelson confirmed that the collision occurred, and a huge rescue team from the Navy and Coast Guard were in the area “We are throwing everything we can at this right now. We are looking for survivors,” Nelson said. “They have seen debris is in the water.”