A woman from Union is dead and her husband is presumed dead after a helicopter crash in Hawaii Thursday, family members told us. The crash happened off the island of Kauai, officials said. Amy Quintua, 53, was on board the helicopter with her husband, 60-year-old James, “Jim,” Quintua while on a trip.
A hiker on the Kalalau trail reported seeing the helicopter crash into the water about a quarter of a mile (0.4 kilometers) off the Na Pali Coast on Thursday afternoon and contacted the fire department, officials said. According to officials, Kauai lifeguards on personal watercraft recovered Amy’s body from the water Thursday.
Family members told us that Jim is presumed dead. Crews have still not located Jim or the 69-year-old pilot. Officials have not said what led up to the crash.
The weather at the time was normal for this time of year with winds of about 15 mph to 25 mph, light clouds and scattered showers, Kauai Fire Chief Michael told our partners at the Associated Press: “We do not believe the weather was a concern.” The Robinson R44 helicopter was part of Ali’i Kauai Air Tours & Charters, authorities said. The company bills itself as the only Hawaiian-family-owned and -operated air tour company on Kauai, and its website said it has more than three decades of flying experience.
It offers private tours by plane or helicopter. Ladd Sanger, a Texas-based aviation attorney and helicopter pilot, has handled air tour crash litigation in Hawaii and has flown a helico.
