Story ID: 
Tour Helo Missing in Hawaii
By: Mark Huber
Caption: The Coast Guard is searching for a missing  Airbus AS350 B2 with seven aboard after it failed to return to its base on Kauai. 
Word Count: 146
The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing its search for a missing air tour helicopter with seven aboard off Kauai’s rugged Na Pali coast in Hawaii. The helicopter was reported overdue at 6:06 p.m. local time Thursday. Preliminary reports identify it as an Airbus AS350 B2 operated by Safari Helicopters, based in Lihue.

The Coast Guard launched an MH-65 helicopter and a cutter to the area but described search conditions as “challenging,” with low ceiling, light rain, and winds gusting to 24 knots. The U.S. Navy also is assisting in search efforts and additional assets were to be sent to the area at first light on Friday morning. High winds and rains are expected to continue today, with wave heights predicted to Sea State 4.

As of Friday morning, an ELT signal from the missing helicopter had not been detected.