Wreckage from a missing tour helicopter carrying seven passengers has been found, police on the Hawaiian island of Kauai said Friday afternoon.
The U.S. Coast Guard had been searching all day Friday for the “overdue” tour helicopter carrying seven people, including two who are believed to be minors, that went missing off the coast of Hawaii on Thursday night.
According to NBC News, there was no word on survivors or injuries.
“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these passengers” Kauai Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami said. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“Operations continue and we are doing everything we can at this time.”
The wreckage was found in Kokee, near Nualolo, which is along the north coast of the island.
The owner of the helicopter raised the alarm at 6:06 p.m. (11:06 p.m. ET) Thursday, according to the police officials. The helicopter carrying one pilot and six passengers, which had been touring Kauai’s Napali Coast, had been due back at 5:21 p.m.
The aircraft was equipped with an electronic locator, but according to the Coast Guard, no signals had been received.
Helicopter crews from the Coast Guard, Air Station Barbers Point, and the U.S. Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron assisted in the search. The Kauai Fire Department also coordinated ground searches near the shoreline, and Barking Sands Security used all-terrain vehicles to search the coastline.
The Coast Guard said on Thursday that rain and clouds were keeping visibility to around 4 miles, and winds were 28 mph making the search extremely challenging.
Kauai is an island west of Oahu, which is where Honolulu is located.
