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Hawaii: tour helicopter carrying seven people missing Hawaii: rescuers search for missing tour helicopter carrying seven people
(about 5 hours later)
No signals had been received from the helicopter, which was carrying a pilot and six passengers, said bulletin No signals had been received from the helicopter, which was carrying a pilot and six passengers, coast guard said
A tour helicopter with seven people aboard disappeared in Hawaii, and a search is under way, the US coast guard said. Rescuers resumed searching Friday for a tour helicopter carrying seven people that disappeared during a trip to one of the most rugged and remote coastlines in Hawaii.
The owner of the helicopter contacted the coast guard about 45 minutes after the aircraft was due back from a tour of Kauai’s Na Pali coast on Thursday evening, a news release said. The helicopter has an electronic locator, but no signals had been received, according to the bulletin. A search that began Thursday night was expanded Friday morning, but the steep terrain, low visibility, choppy seas and rain made the effort challenging, the coast guard said.
The helicopter was carrying a pilot and six passengers, two of whom were believed to be minors, the release said. “Those conditions are not ideal,” coast guard Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir said. Rescue teams were “looking for any sign of the helicopter both on land and in the water and along the coastline”.
“The weather conditions are challenging,“ said Petty Officer First Class Robert Cox, Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu. “We have trained crews responding and on scene searching for any signs of the helicopter and those aboard.” The helicopter company, identified as Safari Helicopters, contacted the coast guard about 45 minutes after the aircraft was due back from a tour of Kauai’s Na Pali coast on Thursday evening, a coast guard statement said.
According to the release, clouds and rain at the scene rendered visibility at 4 miles (6.4km), with winds at 28mph (45km/h). Friday’s forecast predicted winds at around 23mph (37km/h). The Eurocopter AS350 helicopter took off from the town of Lihue, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.
A helicopter and crew was launched from coast guard air station Barbers Point, and additional support was provided by the US navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 at Kaneohe Bay. A coast guard cutter and crew were also launched from Honolulu. The helicopter has an electronic locator, but no signals had been received, according to the coast guard.
Further searches with a search-and-rescue airplane and crew and fresh helicopter crew were scheduled for first light, if necessary. The chopper was carrying a pilot and six passengers, two of whom were believed to be minors, the coast guard said.
According to the release, helicopter tours are common above the island of Kauai, much of which is a state park. Clouds and rain at the scene limited visibility to 4 miles (6.4km), with winds at 28mph (45km/h). Friday’s forecast predicted winds were at about 23 mph (37km/h).
A rescue helicopter and crew was launched from coast guard air station Barbers Point, and additional support was provided by the navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 at Kaneohe Bay. A ccoast guard cutter and crew were also launched from Honolulu.
Local fire officials planned to launch their own search efforts. Commercial helicopter companies and ATV crews were also being deployed.
Towering mountains and steep, deep ravines and cliffs line the coast.
“There are beaches along the Na Pali coastline, but we are experiencing periods of very high water, so exactly how much beach may be available I couldn’t tell you,” Muir said.
Helicopter tours are common above the island of Kauai, much of which is made up of remote state parks.