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 across a rugged cliff in a remote valley on Hawaii Island, authorities said.
Rescuers who rappelled from a helicopter recovered six bodies, which were taken to a temporary morgue in Honokaa, the nearest community, said Neil Gyotoku, a spokesman for Hawaii County Civil Defense.
There was no immediate sign of survivors.
The crew of a Hawaii County Fire Department helicopter sighted the Scenic Air Tours Hawaii plane above Waipio Valley on the island’s northeast coast, according to Hawaii County Fire Battalion Chief James Higashida.
The twin-engine Beechcraft disappeared without indication of trouble Sunday during a planned hourlong flight from Hilo Airport on Hawaii to Kahului Airport on Maui. A Coast Guard helicopter had picked up a signal from an emergency beacon on the northeast side of the island Monday.
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