Two presumed dead after hang glider crashes in Hawaii

Two presumed dead after hang glider crashes in Hawaii

2011-02-17 08:29:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

HONOLULU, HAWAII (BNO NEWS) -- Two people have been presumed dead after remaining unaccounted for after the motorized hang glider on which they were riding crashed off the coast of a Hawaiian island, local media reported Wednesday.

According to KXLY, the island of Kauai's Fire Department and U.S. Coast Guard intensified their search efforts by boat, helicopter, and plane, using sonar to locate the bodies of the two passengers who flew out and crashed into the ocean near Hanapepe, Hawaii.

However, the owner and pilot of the aircraft, Jim Gaither, of Hanapepe, and Kim Buergel, 49, of Spokane, Washington, have been presumed dead, as officials confirmed that they are no longer conducting a search, rather a recovery operation.

Crews were able to recover some material that is believed to be from the Light Sport Aircraft which they were riding. The hang glider is operated by Big Sky Kauai and owned by Gaither himself.

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