Video: Search ongoing for downed plane off Kauai

The Coast Guard plans to continue searching tonight for the Alpine Air plane which crashed this morning off Kaua'i.

A cutter will join two other boats, two helicopters and a C-130 in the search, Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer Angela Henderson said.

The Coast Guard was notified of the missing plane at 6:45 a.m. and a C-130 confirmed debris, Henderson said. The search effort started at 8:50 a.m., she said.

Henderson said by early evening the search had covered about 100 nautical miles with no trace of the wreckage or survivors.

The Alpine Air plane was carrying approximately 4,200 pounds of U.S. mail, U.S. Postal Service spokesman Duke Gonzales said. The cargo was likely a mix of mail from Hawai'i, the Mainland and international points, he said.

Some of the mail has been recovered, and any salvageable pieces will be delivered, Gonzales said.

Two to three flights a day carry mail to Kaua'i, he said. Alpine Air is subcontracted by Postal Service contractor Corporate Air to fly mail to several destinations within the state.

The Postal Service pays loss or damage claims when mail pieces are shipped via insured, registered, COD or Express Mail services. Customers who believe they have a claim may go to a post office and file a Form 1000 claim requesting reimbursement.

Customers must provide proof of mailing, loss and evidence of value as documentation with their claims. Gonzales said postal clerks can provide them with the form and answer any questions they have regarding its filing and insurance claim procedures.