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7 People Missing After Tour Helicopter Is Lost in Hawaii Wreckage of Tour Helicopter Is Found in Hawaii, Officials Say
(about 5 hours later)
The Coast Guard in Hawaii said on Friday it would continue searching by air and sea for a tour helicopter that disappeared late Thursday with seven people on board. Officials in Hawaii said that they found the wreckage on Friday of a tourist helicopter that vanished a day earlier, and that the search for those on board was continuing.
“The search continues for the seven people and any sign of the aircraft on Kauai,” Lt. Chloe Harmon, command duty officer at the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu, said in a statement on Friday. “We appreciate the substantial assistance of our partners to continue the search overnight and maximize search efforts in the area.” A pilot and six passengers were aboard the helicopter tour of the island of Kauai, sometimes called the “Garden Island.” Much of the small island is lush, uninhabited tropical rainforest, and helicopter tours to see the stunning views are a popular attraction.
Although several agencies coordinated an hourslong search effort, there were no signs of the helicopter, the Coast Guard said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these passengers,” Derek S.K. Kawakami, mayor of Kauai, said in a statement. “Operations continue and we are doing everything we can at this time.”
Several crews will conduct searches at first light, the Coast Guard said, adding that additional search efforts would begin around 8:30 and 9 a.m. local time. The Federal Aviation Administration said that the aircraft, a Eurocopter AS350 B2, was found about 13 miles north of Hanapepe, a small community on the southern side of the island. The aircraft had taken off from nearby Lihue Airport, said Jim Peters, an agency spokesman.
The Coast Guard said in an earlier statement Friday morning that the search began after the owner of the helicopter, which it did not identify, had reported that the plane had not returned as scheduled from a tour of Kauai’s Na Pali Coast. The island of Kauai is northwest of Oahu, where Honolulu is. County officials said in a statement that the authorities were notified on Thursday at about 6 p.m., that a Safari Helicopter tour in the area had not returned. The helicopter, which was scheduled to land at 5:30 p.m., last made contact at about 4:40 p.m., when the pilot said the tour was leaving the Waimea Canyon area, the statement said.
The helicopter was carrying a pilot and six passengers, two of whom were believed to be children, the statement said. Though the helicopter has an electronic locator, no signal had been received. Local officials and others from the Coast Guard, National Guard and Pacific Missile Range Facility started an intensive search on Thursday evening. The Navy, Civil Air Patrol and private helicopters joined that effort on Friday.
“We have trained crews responding and on scene searching for any signs of the helicopter and those aboard,” said Petty Officer First Class Robert Cox of the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu. Though the helicopter has an electronic locator, no signal had been received, the Coast Guard said in a statement.
Weather in the area was challenging, Petty Officer Cox said. Because of clouds and rain, visibility was limited to four miles, and winds were at 28 miles per hour, the release said. Friday’s forecast predicted scattered showers and winds around 23 m.p.h. Robert Cox, petty officer first class of the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu, said the weather in the area was challenging. Because of clouds and rain, visibility was limited to four miles, and winds were at 28 miles per hour, the release said.
“We are currently coordinating with federal and local agencies and are ready to deploy state resources as needed to help in the search effort,” Gov. David Ige said in a statement on Friday. The office of the mayor of Kauai did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. “We are currently coordinating with federal and local agencies and are ready to deploy state resources as needed to help in the search effort,” Gov. David Ige said in a statement on Friday.
Helicopter tours are common above the island of Kauai, the Coast Guard said. Eighty percent of the island is uninhabited, and much of that area is a state park. Safari Helicopter did not immediately return messages on Friday.
Kauai is Hawaii’s fourth-largest island, according to the state’s official travel website. Sometimes called the “Garden Island,” Kauai is the state’s oldest and northernmost island, the site said. Parts of the island are accessible only by sea or air.
Deaths involving helicopters and planes in Hawaii are not uncommon. Three people were killed when a helicopter crashed on Oahu in April. Two months later, a skydiving plane crashed north of Honolulu, killing 11 people.Deaths involving helicopters and planes in Hawaii are not uncommon. Three people were killed when a helicopter crashed on Oahu in April. Two months later, a skydiving plane crashed north of Honolulu, killing 11 people.
In August, Representative Ed Case, Democrat of Hawaii, introduced a measure that would impose stricter regulations on commercial air tour operations. Mr. Case’s Safe and Quiet Skies Act would prohibit tour flights over national wilderness areas and national parks, as well as require pilots to focus only on flying the aircraft — not narrating tours. In August, Representative Ed Case, Democrat of Hawaii, introduced a measure that would impose stricter regulations on commercial air tour operations. His proposed legislation would prohibit tour flights over national wilderness areas and national parks, as well as require pilots to focus only on flying the aircraft — not narrating tours.