Coast Guard Looking for Missing Tour Helicopter Off Coast of Hawaii

Authorities say an "overdue" tour helicopter that was carrying seven people, including two minors, has gone missing off the coast of Hawaii.

"The weather conditions are challenging," said Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Cox in a statement. "We have trained crews responding and on scene searching for any signs of the helicopter and those aboard."

The owner of the helicopter company first raised the alarm about the tour helicopter at around 6 p.m. Thursday after it failed to return from a tour off Kauai's Napali coast. Kauai is an island located west of Oahu. Around 80 percent of Kauai is uninhabited, with most of that land a state park.

Weather conditions in the area have made the search for the missing aircraft are "challenging" thanks to low visibility and blustery winds.

The tour helicopter is reportedly equipped with an electronic locator, however, no signals have been received, authorities with the Coast Guard said.

Officials continued their search at first light on Friday morning and located the crash site in a remote area of the island. They have sent rescue crews to search for survivors. 80% of the island is uninhabited and some areas are only accessible by sea or air.

Photo: Getty Images


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