One person is dead and two are missing after a tourist helicopter crashed off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, on Thursday.
The helicopter, belonging to Ali’i Kauai Air Tours and Charters, crashed early Thursday afternoon about a quarter mile offshore along the Na Pali coast, according to the Kauai County government’s Facebook page.
According to the post, a hiker on the Kalalau Trail witnessed the helicopter crash and reported the crash to the Kauai Police Department at around 1:20 p.m. local time.
One body was recovered from the water at about 2:25 p.m., but the other two were still missing, according to an update from the county at 6:10 p.m. The identities of the helicopter passengers have not been released.
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One person is dead and two others are missing after a tourist helicopter crashed Thursday off the Na Pali coast on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, county officials said. (John G. Fuller/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Local search and recovery efforts were suspended at sunset for the safety of rescuers, but the U.S. Coast Guard continued searching into Thursday night. County officials said local search efforts were scheduled to resume “before dawn on Friday.”
Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck said the search and recovery of the two missing bodies will remain a multi-agency effort.
“Our hearts go out to the families affected by this tragedy. We continue to work with our partners to search for those missing and offer support at this difficult time,” he said.
The Federal Aviation Administration has implemented temporary flight restrictions in the search area while search efforts continue.
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Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami offered his condolences following the tragic accident, saying via the county’s Facebook page that he was “deeply saddened” to hear that one person had died and two were missing.
“While we don’t currently have all the details of the accident, we know emergency personnel are doing everything they can in this emergency effort,” Kawakami said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all involved.”
Police say a hiker along the Kalalau Trail (above) witnessed the helicopter crash into the ocean and called police Thursday afternoon. (File photo) (Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Acting Governor Sylvia Luke also said, “My deepest condolences go to the families of those involved in this tragic accident,” and expressed her gratitude to all agencies that responded to the accident for their assistance.
Agencies involved in the search and recovery effort included the U.S. Coast Guard, Kauai Fire Department personnel including Rescue 3 aboard Air 1, Kauai Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Ocean Safety Bureau personnel, and Kauai Police Department.
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It is unclear what caused the helicopter crash, but the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
