NA PALI COAST — The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for two people off the Na Pali Coast on Friday, a day after a helicopter crashed in the water about one-quarter mile from land.
NA PALI COAST — The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for two people off the Na Pali Coast on Friday, a day after a helicopter crashed in the water about one-quarter mile from land.
The Coast Guard is searching the area by air and sea with a HC-130J Super Hercules airplane crew in the area, as well as a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew. A 45-foot response boat crew from Coast Guard Station Kaua‘i is also on scene, as is the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Gerczak.
The helicopter went down in an area fronting the Hanakoa Valley at approximately 1:20 p.m. on Thursday. The helicopter was with Ali‘i Kaua‘i Air Tours and Charters, the Kaua‘i Police Department said. One body was recovered at approximately 2:25 p.m. on Thursday.
A hiker on the Kalalau Trail saw the Robinson 44 helicopter crash into the water, and then notified the Kaua‘i Fire Department. The helicopter had one pilot and two passengers aboard. The victims have not been identified.
Anyone with information that could assist search efforts should contact Coast Guard Sector Honolulu at 808-842-2603.
