HI - Tour helicopter carrying 7 people missing, Kauai, 26 Dec 2019

[JerseyGirl]

The U.S. Coast Guard was searching for an "overdue" tour helicopter believed to be carrying seven people that has gone missing off the coast of Hawaii.

The owner of the helicopter raised the alarm at 6:06 p.m. (11:06 p.m. ET) Thursday. The helicopter carrying one pilot and six passengers, which had been touring of Kauai's Napali Coast, had been due back at 5:21 p.m.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...g-7-people-goes-missing-hawaii-coast-n1107566

 

[JerseyGirl]

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

Nearly 80 per cent of Kauai is uninhabited, and much of that is a state park - the home of the Manawaiopuna Falls, otherwise known as 'Jurassic Park Falls'. This waterfall was made famous in one of the opening scenes of the 1993 film, Jurassic Park. The only way to see the 400ft-high falls is by chopper, as it's "tucked on private land in a highly inaccessible, undeveloped area".

Seven missing after helicopter vanishes off Jurassic Park island in Hawaii

 

[JerseyGirl]

The chopper, which had six passengers, including two children, and the pilot aboard.

The aircraft has an electronic locator, but no signals have been received.

Winds are at 28 mph, with 4 miles visibility due to clouds and rain, and the difficult weather is expected to continue into Friday.

Tour Helicopter Carrying Five Adults and Two Minors Disappears Near Hawaii, Coast Guard Says

 

[whitelilac]

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - More than 12 hours after a Kauai-based helicopter was due to return from a tour off the Na Pali Coast, the U.S. Coast Guard says there’s still no sign of the aircraft, which was carrying seven people.

“The search continues for the seven people and any sign of the aircraft on Kauai,” said Lt. Chloe Harmon, command duty officer of the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu.

Additional agencies to aid in search off Kauai for missing tour helicopter with 7 aboard

 

[kkdj]

.

 

[human]

What would be the reason that there is no signal?

Does the locator work in water?

 

[Jackielee09]

How scary for them and their families.
Prayers & hope for rescue.

 

[lucky181]

Hawaii News Now has confirmed that the aircraft belongs to Safari Helicopters, a tour helicopter company based in Lihue. Company officials declined to comment on the situation.

Additional agencies to aid in search off Kauai for missing tour helicopter with 7 aboard

The last communication came around 4:40 p.m. local time, Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir told CNN Friday, about 40 minutes before the helicopter was due to return. At that time it was leaving Waimeia Canyon, Muir said.

Missing tour helicopter Kauai: Coast Guard searching aircraft with 7 people onboard in Hawaii - CNN

 

[lucky181]

Wreckage of Kauai tour helicopter carrying 7 has been found

The wreckage of a Eurocopter AS350 carrying seven people has been found in Kokee near Nualolo, according to Kauai county officials.

The search for survivors is ongoing.

“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these passengers,” said Mayor Derek Kawakami. “Operations continue and we are doing everything we can at this time.”

The president and owner of Safari Helicopters could not be reached for comment at this time.

Wreckage of Kauai tour helicopter carrying 7 has been found

 

[whitelilac]

More here:
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The wreckage of a helicopter that went missing Thursday while on a tour of Kauai’s Na Pali Coast has been found in a remote area of the island.

There were seven people, including two children, onboard the chopper when it went down.

Authorities fear there were no survivors in the crash, sources confirmed to Hawaii News Now.

(So very sad)
Wreckage of missing tour helicopter found on Kauai; all 7 onboard feared dead

 

[Richrd]

Six sets of remains recovered from helicopter crash site in Kōkeʻe

Kauai tour helicopter missing 27th Dec 2019 - PPRuNe Forums

Accident Eurocopter AS350 B2 AStar , 26 Dec 2019

 

[beatrixpotter]

Ugh, this is so sad. Hopefully they update the title. I assumed people were still missing but it seems this was updated yesterday and they were found. :/

 

[Jackielee09]

Devastating for family & friends.

 

[RobinCAL]

Such a sad ending!!

 

[lucky181]

Safari Helicopters ‘mourns the loss of 7 lives’ aboard chopper; Pilot, 2 passengers identified

"Kauai police said they believe the pilot is Wailua resident Paul Matero, 69, along with two Wisconsin passengers Amy Gannon, 47, and Jocelyn Gannon, 13, according to preliminary reports.

"Paul was a seasoned member of our team with 12 years of experience on Kauai,” said owner Preston Myers in a news release.

The four other passengers are believed to be a family visiting from Switzerland. Their identities have not yet been released."

Safari Helicopters ‘mourns the loss of 7 lives’ aboard chopper; Pilot, 2 passengers identified

Ed Case calls helicopter tours unsafe, wants stricter regulations

In the wake of the Kauai helicopter crash, Hawaii U.S. Rep. Ed Case on Friday voiced blistering criticism of the tour helicopter and small-aircraft industry, saying it is unsafe, completely incapable of self-regulation and locally has ignored sensible safety improvements.

In the phone interview, Case noted that tour helicopter pilots — unlike commercial airline pilots, whose sole job is to fly the airplane — are narrating tours, answering questions from passengers and managing video while controlling the aircraft. “That’s unacceptable,” he said.

Ed Case calls helicopter tours unsafe, wants stricter regulations

 

[LadyL]

Ed Case calls helicopter tours unsafe, wants stricter regulations

In the wake of the Kauai helicopter crash, Hawaii U.S. Rep. Ed Case on Friday voiced blistering criticism of the tour helicopter and small-aircraft industry, saying it is unsafe, completely incapable of self-regulation and locally has ignored sensible safety improvements.

In the phone interview, Case noted that tour helicopter pilots — unlike commercial airline pilots, whose sole job is to fly the airplane — are narrating tours, answering questions from passengers and managing video while controlling the aircraft. “That’s unacceptable,” he said.

Ed Case calls helicopter tours unsafe, wants stricter regulations

[sbm]

he's right that is totally unacceptable