One person is dead and two are missing after a Hawaiian tourist helicopter crashed into the ocean off the coast of Kauai, authorities said.
The U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities searched the Na Pali coast after a Robinson R44 helicopter operated by Alii Kauai Air Tours & Charters went into the water around 1:20 p.m. Thursday.
“Preliminary information indicates the pilot on board is a local resident and the two passengers on board are believed to be visitors from the mainland,” Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck said at a news conference.
According to the Coast GuardA hiker on the Kalalau Trail witnessed the accident and called authorities.
One body was found in the water hours after the crash, but the other two people on board the crashed boat remain missing.
“Search efforts continued across multiple agencies on Saturday.” The Kauai Police Department said in a statement:.
“Search and rescue operations using county assets will be suspended at sundown for the safety of emergency responders, and county operations will continue on Sunday.”
With post wire
