Flight canceled after pilot disappears

[Midnight Mike]

Friday, April 20, 2007

Flight canceled after pilot disappears

Advertiser Staff

A U.S. Airways flight out of Kaua'i was canceled last night after one of the pilots disappeared while snorkeling
The snorkeler, a first officer on the 757 aircraft, was reported missing 5:45 p.m. yesterday. His name has not been released.

While on crew rest in Lihu'e, he went snorkeling and did not return to the crew hotel or report for his flight (US Airways flight 47) from Lihu'e to Phoenix, Ariz.

Kaua'i fire department and the U.S. Coast Guard are searching for the pilot.

"A replacement crew has been sent to Lihu'e and will operate an extra flight (US9037) for our customers affected by last night's cancellation," said Valerie Wunder, a U.S. Airways spokeswoman.

The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing to search for the missing snorkeler off Kaua'i's Napali Coast.

He was last seen around 4:30 p.m. yesterday.

He was scheduled to fly out last night at 10:40 p.m. A Coast Guard helicopter is searching the area where the pilot disappeared and a C-130 search aircraft and crew is set to launch.

The man disappeared while snorkeling at Ke'e Beach, according to a county news release.

Responding patrol officers called the fire department and asked them to start a search and rescue mission.

The U.S. Coast Guard also was called to assist. The Guard sent a helicopter and conducted an aerial search last night.

At daybreak, the fire department began its search and rescue operation with lifeguards in a Zodiac, according to a county news release.

The Kaua'i Fire Department's Air-1 was also dispatched to the scene, along with a rescue specialist on a jet ski.

The U.S. Coast Guard resumed its search and rescue operation this morning.

[hiss srq]

A loss for the USAirways family. RIP

[LGA777]

Here is a further very sad update to this story !

Authorities identify pilot found dead in Kaua'i waters

Advertiser Staff

LIHU'E, Kaua'i—A U.S. Airways pilot missing after he went snorkeling off North Kaua'i Thursday night was found dead late this morning in the waters off Kalalau Beach. He was identified as Theodore Teichgraber, 37, of Phoenix, Ariz.

He was last seen about 4:30 p.m. Thursday snorkeling off Ke'e Beach. A fire department and Coast Guard search lasted into the night and resumed this morning.

A tour boat spotted the body late this morning and reported it to the Coast Guard helicopter in the area. The Coast Guard crew recovered Teichgraber's body and took it to Lihu'e for transfer to Wilcox Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Teichgraber had been scheduled to be first officer on U.S. Airways flight 47 from Lihu'e to Phoenix Thursday night. That flight was canceled when Teichgraber failed to appear to fly it. The airline sent a replacement crew which was to fly the plane and its passengers as an extra flight, numbered US9037, today.

According to posts on another board FO Teichgraber was very well liked by the crews he flew with. He leaves behind a wife and 3 year old son.

Very sad incident.

RIP

LGA777

[hiss srq]

A beautiful memorial poasted by one of our west pilots for him in a message board elsewhere.

[stuart schechter]

2 bad incidents in 2 days. RIP US pilot and my condolences to the family.