Wreckage of missing helicopter found

The wreckage of a helicopter carrying seven people to one of the most rugged and remote coastlines in Hawaii was found Friday in a mountainous area on the island of Kauai, authorities said.

Officials said in a news release that they’re sending additional resources and searching for possible survivors.

Searchers began looking for the helicopter carrying a pilot and six passengers after it was reported overdue from a tour of Kauai’s Na Pali Coast on Thursday evening. Two passengers are believed to be minors, the Coast Guard said.

Steep terrain, low visibility, choppy seas and rain had complicated the search, the agency said.

The helicopter company, Safari Helicopters, contacted the Coast Guard about 6 p.m. Thursday to say the aircraft was about 30 minutes overdue, authorities said.

According to a preliminary report, the pilot relayed that the tour was leaving the Waimea Canyon area about 4:40 p.m., which was the last contact with helicopter, Kauai police said.

A person who answered the phone at a number listed for Safari Helicopters declined to comment and hung up.

The Eurocopter AS350 lifted off from the town of Lihue, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman

Ian Gregor said.

The helicopter has an emergency electronic locator, but no signals were received.

Clouds and rain at the scene limited visibility to 4 miles (6.4 kilometers), with winds at 28 mph (45 kph). Friday’s forecast predicted winds of about 23 mph (37 kph).

The Na Pali Coast is one of the most dramatic and sought-after destinations in Hawaii. It was featured in the film “Jurassic Park.”