A Southwest Airlines flight attendant died while in Hawaii, the airline confirmed on Aug. 24, prompting an investigation by local authorities.
Southwest confirmed to USA TODAY that Jenny Lupton, 50, died during a layover and that the airline is "engaged with local authorities as they investigate."
"We have offered our condolences and support to the employee’s family and coworkers," Southwest Airlines said in a statement to USA TODAY.
Lupton spent 29 years as a flight attendant, including 26 with Southwest, her niece Hannah Lupton told USA TODAY. Jenny Lupton was the mother of a 15-year-old son.
The Honolulu Police Department said that it had opened an unattended death investigation but did not provide further details in an Aug. 24 statement to USA
TODAY. The department asked for patience and said that they are "actively investigating the circumstances" surrounding the death.
"This is a thorough investigation that will take time," the news release said. "Detectives are conducting numerous interviews, reviewing and recovering surveillance video, and examining evidence as part of the investigative process."
'Bright person' who was 'life of the party'
Hannah Lupton described her aunt as a "bright person" who was the "life of the party."
"(Jenny) loved her son, she loved her family, and she loved Moore, Oklahoma," she said.
Lupton's sister, Tresa Lupton, echoed those sentiments in an interview with KFOR.
"We were going to live together when we were, you know, elderly women and take care of each other. And we were going to go traveling," Tresa Lupton said.
Jenny Lupton had originally travelled to Hawaii for work but planned to stay there for several days before returning home to Oklahoma, according to Hannah Lupton.
Family demands answers
Hannah Lupton told USA TODAY that the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner informed the family that it appeared Jenny Lupton fell from the balcony of her 24th-floor hotel room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki and was found on Aug. 20 near a contamination bin below her balcony.
USA TODAY contacted the Honolulu Medical Examiner's office for comment on Aug. 24 and did not receive a response.
Hannah Lupton said the family does not believe the death was a suicide and is demanding an investigation.
"We are worried that there is possible foul play involved," said Hannah Lupton. She noted that her aunt was not suicidal and had begun the process of getting a tattoo while she was in Hawaii.
"She had texted the family and told us how, once she got home, we were going to go get it colored in, and my mother was going to get the same tattoo with her," Hannah Lupton said.
Family members will travel to Hawaii to return the body to Oklahoma and "dig a little more" for answers, Hannah Lupton said. "We think it would also give us some healing, being able to be in the last place she was."
The office of Oklahoma Attorney General Gettner Drummond told USA TODAY that it has been in touch with the Hawaii Attorney General to "ensure a proper investigation into Jenny Lupton’s death" and remains in contact with the Lupton family "who deserve to have answers about this tragedy."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Southwest flight attendant's death in Hawaii has family seeking answers
