Search for pilot, passenger suspended following helicopter crash in waters off Kaua‘i

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect a statement issued by the Coast Guard and the county of Kaua‘i, correcting officials’ initial spelling of the missing pilot’s surname.

The Coast Guard and the county of Kaua‘i at 2 p.m. Sunday suspended their search for two individuals missing in the aftermath of a the helicopter crash off Nāpali Coast late last week.

Missing are 69-year-old Guy Croydon, pilot of the helicopter, and 60-year-old James Quintua, one of the passengers. The other passenger, 53-year-old Amy Nichole Ruark Quintua, was recovered unresponsive by Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau lifeguards Thursday.

Rescue crews searched for approximately 60 hours, covering more than 830 square miles.

“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 helicopter that crashed was a Robinson R44 from Kaua‘i-based company Ali’i Kaua‘i Air Tours and Charters. According to one aviation accident attorney, “The Robinson, in the food chain of helicopters, is the smallest and cheapest of helicopters used by tour companies.”

The incident occurred last Thursday, when a hiker on the Kalalau trail saw the helicopter crash approximately a quarter mile offshore and notified the fire department.

The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the cause of the crash.

Involved in and supporting the search were:

• Coast Guard Sector Honolulu
• Coast Guard District 14
• Coast Guard Station Kaua‘i
• Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point
• Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Gerczak
• Coast Guard Regional Dive Locker Pacific
• Kaua‘i Fire Department
• Kaua‘i Police Department
• Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau
• Hawai‘i National Guard
• Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency
• Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency
• Life’s Bridges Hawai‘i