Fatal helicopter crash in East Molokai

EAST MOLOKAI — At around 12:23 p.m. the Maui Fire Department received a 911 call about a helicopter crash on the east end of the island of Molokai. MFD responded and have so far recovered four bodies. According to Maui police officials the helicopter was a Blue Hawaiian tour that listed five people who were supposed to be on board according to its flight manifest.

Crash victims have been identified as three males, one of them the pilot, and two females. The chaplain for the Maui Police Department is on scene at Blue Hawaiian helicopters and is working with the company employees during this time of grief. The Maui Visitors Bureau is also involved and working with the victim’s families. No names are being released at this time.

According to the Maui Fire Department the crash area is being described as on the east side of Molokai, mauka of Kilohana School off of Kamehameha V Highway. No injuries have been reported from the school.

Fire officials said the weather conditions in the area consist of rain and a lot of wind. Access to the area is limited to ATV’s. Fire fighters said the crash did cause a brush fire but that flames were limited to the crash site only.