The U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities suspended their search on Sunday for two missing people, including the 69-year-old pilot of a helicopter that crashed off the Na Pali Coast in Hawaii.
Rescue crews searched for about 60 hours, covering over 830 square miles, officials said. The search was suspended at 2 p.m. local time Sunday, with pilot Guy Croydon and passenger James Quintua, 60, still missing.
Kauai Ocean Safety Bureau lifeguards recovered the body of Amy Nichole Ruark Quintua, 53, on Thursday. She was unresponsive, officials said.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
“We would like to thank our Kauai County partners for their professionalism and organization, which have made this unified response very effective,” said Coast Guard Cmdr Kristen Hahn, search-and-rescue mission coordinator with Coast Guard Sector Honolulu.
“While this event has been a tragedy for both the families and the community, I am reassured that our responders have been able to collect some debris and exhaust our search efforts, which may provide closure for everyone involved.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of Guy Croydon, and James and Amy Nichole Ruark Quintua,” said Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami.
“We are truly grateful for the committed efforts of our search-and-rescue teams, partnering agencies, and community during this operation.”
The incident aircraft was a Robinson R44 helicopter from the Ali’i Kauai Air Tours and Charter company in Kauai, officials said. Kauai is the fourth-largest island in Hawaii, known for its lush valleys, sharp mountain peaks and tropical rainforest.
On social media, hundreds of people offered tributes and condolences, including members of the families involved in the crash.
“We are all in shock and heartbroken,” wrote Holly Croydon, who said Guy Croydon was her uncle.
“To all of those involved in the search and their families, we are so grateful for all you did to find my husband and Jim and Amy,” wrote Ann McKenna Croydon. “We will always be grateful.”
“Guy was such a good person,” wrote Bridget Collins. “He will be missed.”
