Wreckage of Hawaii Tour Plane Found
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HONOLULU — The wreckage of a sightseeing airplane that had disappeared with 11 people aboard was found Tuesday strewn over a rugged cliff-side in a remote valley on Hawaii Island, authorities said.
There was no immediate sign of survivors.
The crew of a Hawaii County Fire Department helicopter spotted the Scenic Air Tours plane above Waipio Valley on the island’s northeast coast, Hawaii County Fire Battalion Chief James Higashida said.
The twin-engine Beechcraft disappeared without indication of trouble Sunday afternoon during a planned hourlong flight from Hilo Airport on Hawaii to Kahului Airport on Maui.
An 18-member Marine Corps reconnaissance team equipped with mountaineering equipment was lowered onto a plateau at the 2,000-foot elevation, 700 feet above the crash site, and rappelled down ropes to the wreckage, Hawaii County Civil Defense spokesman Bruce Butts said.
“They have spotted bodies at the site. At this point, there is no indication there are any survivors,” Butts said.
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