UPDATE: Helicopter Crash Site Located on Molokaʻi, No Survivors

Crash site located, East End of Molokaʻi. Maui Now graphic.

Update: 3:31 p.m. 11/16/16

At 2:42 p.m. Wednesday, rescue crews who reached the helicopter crash site reported that there were no survivors. The Maui police department will be coordinating the recovery of the victims and the preservation of the wreckage scene for federal investigators. The crash site is located approximately 1.3 miles above the highway, near 793 Kamehameha V Highway. This about 1 mile east of the Pūkoʻo Fire Station.

Update: 2:40 p.m. 11/16/16

At 1:31 p.m. Wednesday, the fire department’s Air 1 helicopter located the wreckage of the missing helicopter. Crews have not yet reached the crash site. Crews are preparing to insert rescue crews by helicopter to determine the condition of the two occupants reported to be on board the aircraft. The crash site is approximately 1.3 miles above the highway, near 793 Kamehameha V Highway.

*Additional information will follow as it becomes available.

Original Post:

The Coast Guard is searching for an overdue helicopter with two individuals aboard near the south side of Molokaʻi after the craft was reported to be overdue on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016.

An employee of the helicopter owner called 9-1-1 to report the craft overdue at 6:55 a.m.

The black, privately owned helicopter reportedly departed Honolulu Tuesday evening with two people aboard and did not arrive to a private helicopter pad on Molokaʻi as expected.

Multiple Coast Guard air and surface crews and a Maui Fire Department aircrew are currently searching the ocean with assets that include the following:
– An HC-130 Hercules airplane and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point;
– Crews of USCGC Kittiwake (WPB-87316) homeported in Honolulu, was diverted from operations off Maui.
– Air 1 helicopter crew from Maui Fire Department.

Dispatch notified the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center personnel who in turn relayed the call to the watchstanders at Coast Guard Joint Rescue Communications Center in Honolulu.

An urgent marine information broadcast requesting assistance from mariners in the southern Molokaʻi area has been issued.

Anyone with information that may help locate the helicopter or crew is asked to contact the Sector Honolulu command center at (808) 842-2600

Weather conditions are currently reported as 21 to 23 mph winds, partly sunny with showers.