A helicopter carrying 18 people crashed off the Atlantic Ocean east of Newfoundland, Canada.

A military search and rescue team reported seeing two persons and a life raft in the water.

According to CNN meteorologists, weather conditions in the region were frigid and windy.  Air temperature is minus 33, water temperature minus 34, and wind chill is 19.  Winds are gusting to 35mph and waves are 6 to 10 feet.

The Canadian Coast Guard sent out a Hercules plane and four Cormorant helicopters along with one of their ships.

Cougar Helicopters operates the choppers that fly to and from the three oilfields in production off Newfoundland.