Kauai copter missing;
5 people on board

The Coast Guard was expected to resume a search over Kauai at first light this morning for a tour helicopter with five people on board that was reported missing yesterday afternoon, officials said.

The Bali Hai Helicopter Tours craft left Port Allen about 4 p.m. yesterday and was scheduled to return an hour later.

Federal Aviation Administration officials notified the Coast Guard about 6:05 p.m. yesterday that the helicopter had never closed out its flight plan and was presumed missing.

By 6:21 p.m., a search for the helicopter had begun, said Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer Jennifer Johnson.

A Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft looked for the missing helicopter until about 8:30 p.m., when visibility became too low and the search was suspended.

Several helicopter tour companies also joined the search, and were expected to help again today, Johnson said.

She said today's search is likely to be much like yesterday's, with crews scouring both the coastline and inland areas of Kauai. She said there were five people aboard the craft, but she did not have more details.

Bali Hai Tours declined to comment on the search. Its Web site advertises 45- and 55-minute tours of Kauai, and says tour sights include the Na Pali coastline and Hanalei Valley.