HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR122719MultiagencysearchcontinuesformissinghelicopterF� OF
THE COUNTY OF KAUA'I
DEREK S. K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
qa 4 MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
OF
News Release
For Immediate Release: December 27, 2019
KAUA`1 FIRE DEPARTMENT
KILIPAKI VAUGHAN, DEPUTY CHIEF
Tel (808) 241-4980
Fax (808) 241-6508
Multi -agency search continues for missing helicopter
NA PALI — Multiple agencies are continuing to search Friday for a commercial helicopter
that was reported missing Thursday evening.
At approximately 6 p.m. Thursday, officials were notified of an overdue Safari Helicopter
that was conducting a tour over the Na Pali area. The helicopter, with six passengers and a pilot
on board, was scheduled to arrive around 5:30 p.m. at the LThu`e landing pad. According to a
preliminary report, the last contact with the helicopter was made at approximately 4:40 p.m.,
when the pilot relayed that the tour was leaving the Waimea Canyon area.
Upon notification, a multi -agency search was launched Thursday night with the U.S.
Coast Guard responding via air and sea, and personnel from the Kauai Fire Department, Kauai
Police Department, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Air National Guard,
and Pacific Missile Range Facility joining the effort on land. However, there have been no sign
of the helicopter.
Search operations continued early Friday morning with air searches being conducted by
the Kauai Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, Civil Air Patrol, and private
helicopter companies. The U.S. Coast Guard is also continuing its sea -based search. A land
and shoreline is also being coordinated at this time.
All agencies will continue search efforts throughout the day.
Updates on the search will be given as information becomes available.
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