Coast Guard searching off Kauai for overdue tour helicopter with 7 people onboard

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/12/27/coast-guard-searching-missing-chopper-off-kauai-with-people-onboard/

By HNN Staff | December 26, 2019 at 9:51 PM HST - Updated December 26 at 10:36 PM

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Coast Guard crews are searching by air and in the water for an overdue helicopter with seven people onboard that failed to return from a tour off Kauai’s Na Pali coast.

Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Cox, of Coast Guard Joint Rescue Command Center Honolulu, said weather conditions in the search area are “challenging" with low visibility and blustery winds.

"We have trained crews responding and on scene searching for any signs of the helicopter and those aboard,” Cox said, in a news release issued Thursday night.

The Coast Guard was alerted to the missing Kauai-based helicopter about 6 p.m. It was due to return about 5:21 p.m. from a tour off the Na Pali Coast.

Onboard are a pilot and six passengers, including two minors.

The aircraft is equipped with an electronic locator, but no signals have been received, officials said.

The Coast Guard said its launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, a cutter and other resources to search for the missing helicopter. Additional searches are scheduled at first light.