Marine, Chesco Native Presumed Dead After Hawaii Chopper Crash

A Malvern man is among the Marines missing when two military helicopters crashed off the coast of Hawaii on January 14, and he is now presumed dead by authorities along with his 11 fellow crew members.

Captain Brian T. Kennedy, 31, a native of Malvern and a graduate of the Naval Academy, went missing along with his crew members after the crash, according to multiple media reports.

The Marines and Coast Guard searched for the crew for five days before declaring them dead, CNN reports.

The choppers were on a routine training exercise when they crashed, officials said.

Life rafts used by the chopper were found, along with debris, but bodies were never recovered.

It remains unclear what caused the accident.

Image of a CH-38 Sea Stallion, the chopper that the Marines were on when they crashed, courtesy militaryfactory.com