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Remains of six recovered from missing Hawaii helicopter wreckage
LOS ANGELES, Dec 28, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The remains of six people were found
at the crash site of a tour helicopter that went missing in Hawaii, officials
said on Friday.
Seven people were initially aboard the aircraft, which failed to return
Thursday afternoon. There were no indications anyone survived the crash and
the search for the last person on board will continue Saturday morning, fire
authorities said, according to local media.
“The remains of six individuals were recovered Friday afternoon at the
site of the helicopter wreckage in Kokee near Nualolo,” the county of Kauai
said in a statement.
The victims’ identities have not yet been released, pending notification
of next of kin.
According to the statement, final recovery efforts were suspended due to
weather conditions but would resume Saturday morning.
“We are heartbroken by this tragedy and we continue to ask the public to
consider the sensitive nature of this devastating situation,” said Kauai’s
mayor, Derek Kawakami.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of all
victims,” he said.
Authorities were notified that an aircraft from Safari Helicopters, which
had been on a tour over the Na Pali area, was missing at around 6:00 pm
Thursday (0400 GMT Friday).
“The last contact with the helicopter was made at approximately 4:40 pm,
when the pilot relayed that the tour was leaving the Waimea Canyon area,” the
statement said.
The Coast Guard, local police and fire departments and other agencies then
launched a search for the missing helicopter.
Kauai — Hawaii’s fourth-largest island — is mountainous, with jagged
cliffs and tropical rainforests.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1518 hrs