1 dead, 2 missing in helicopter crash during Hawaii tour: “Incredibly sad”

Authorities say one person has died and two others are missing after a tourist helicopter crashed off the coast of Kauai.

The accident occurred just before 1:20 p.m. local time on Thursday, July 11, when hikers on the Kalalau Trail watched the Robinson R44 helicopter crash into the ocean about a quarter-mile off the Na Pali coast, Kaua’i County and the Associated Press reported.

One person was recovered about an hour after the crash, county officials said, while multiple agencies, including the United States Coast Guard, Kaua’i Fire Department, Kaua’i Emergency Management Agency and Kaua’i Police Department, conducted a rescue operation for the other two missing occupants.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed a temporary flight ban for the search area for the duration of the operation, the district said.

The search was suspended at sunset on July 11 and was scheduled to resume at dawn on July 12, authorities said.

The helicopter belonged to Ali’i Kaua’i Air Tours and Charters, based in Lihue, where the island’s main airport is located, authorities said. As of the morning of July 12, none of the helicopter’s occupants had been identified.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“We are incredibly saddened to hear of the tragic loss of life today, and the two other individuals who are still missing, after a helicopter crashed into the waters off Kaua’i’s Na Pali coast,” Mayor Derek SK Kawakami said in a press release. “While we do not know all the details of the incident at this time, we know that our first responders are doing everything they can in this emergency operation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of everyone involved.”

Acting Governor Sylvia Luke also issued a statement on the tragedy.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this horrific incident,” Luke said. “As search and recovery efforts continue, the state is fully prepared to work with Kaua’i County and our federal partners. We thank all responders and agency partners for their support during this difficult time.”

According to the National Weather Service, strong trade winds were blowing on the island at the time of the accident.

The last helicopter crash at a tourist attraction airport in the state also occurred on Kauai, when a pilot and six passengers were killed in a crash off the coast near Kekaha in 2019.