'Incredibly Sad': 1 Dead, 2 Missing in ...

One person has died and two others are missing after a tourist helicopter crashed off the coast of Kauai, authorities said

Published Time: 12.07.2024 - 20:31:13 Modified Time: 12.07.2024 - 20:31:13

One person has died and two others are missing after a tourist helicopter crashed off the coast of Kauai, authorities said.

The accident occurred shortly before 1:20 p.m. local time on Thursday, July 11 when hikers along the Kalalau Trail witnessed the Robinson R44 helicopter crash into the ocean about a quarter mile offshore along the Na Pali Coast, according to the county of Kaua’i and the Associated Press.

One person was recovered roughly one hour after the crash, county officials said, while multiple agencies, including the United States Coast Guard, Kaua‘i Fire Department, Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency and the Kaua‘i Police Department, were conducting a rescue operation for the two other missing occupants.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary flight restriction for the search area during the operation, the county said.

The search was paused at sundown on July 11 and was set to continue at first light on July 12, authorities said.

The helicopter was part of Ali‘i Kaua‘i Air Tours and Charters, based in Lihue, where the island’s main airport is located, authorities said. As of the morning of July 12, none of the helicopter’s occupants had been identified.

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“We are incredibly sad to hear of the life tragically lost today, and the two other individuals who are still missing after a helicopter crashed into waters off Kaua‘i’s Na Pali Coast,” Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami said in a news release. “While we do not know all the details surrounding the incident at this time, we do know that our first responders are doing everything they can in this emergency operation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all involved.”

Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke also issued a statement regarding the tragedy.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those involved in this terrible incident,” Luke said. “As search and recovery operations continue, the State stands fully prepared to work in tandem with the County of Kaua‘i and our Federal partners. We thank all responders and agency partners for their assistance during this difficult time.”

The island was experiencing strong trade winds at the time of the accident, according to the National Weather Service.

The last tourist helicopter crash in the state was also in Kauai, when a pilot and six passengers died in a crash off the coast near Kekaha in 2019.