HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR122819PilotandtwopassengersonhelicopteridentifiedTHE COUNTY OF KAUA'I
DEREK S. K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
mqa MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
C OF
News Release
For Immediate Release: December 28, 2019
KAUA`I POLICE DEPARTMENT
TODD G. RAYBUCK, CHIEF
Tel (808) 241-1600
Fax (808) 241-1604
Pilot and two passengers on helicopter identified
KOKEE — The pilot and two passengers on board the helicopter that crashed have been
preliminarily identified, according to the flight manifest.
According to preliminary reports, Kauai police believe the pilot to be 69-year-old Paul
Matero of Wailua and two of the passengers to be 47-year-old Amy Gannon and 13-year-old
Jocelyn Gannon of Wisconsin. The four other passengers are believed to be a family from
Switzerland, however, their identities have not yet been released at this time.
Autopsies to positively confirm all identities are still pending. Some of the remains of the
individuals were recovered Friday afternoon at the site of the helicopter wreckage in Koke`e
near steep, remote terrain between Miloli`i Ridge Road and Nu`alolo Trail.
Recovery efforts were suspended on Friday afternoon due to inclement weather and
resumed Saturday morning. Operations are currently being conducted by the Kauai Fire
Department's Rescue 3 personnel and Air 1, the Department of Land and Natural Resources
and the Kauai Police Department.
Life's Bridges, a grief -counseling agency, the American Red Cross and the Kauai
Visitors Bureau have been assisting the victims' families.