Three killed as tourist helicopter crashes on Hawaiian island of Kauai | Hawaii
A tourist helicopter crashed on a remote beach off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, killing three people and injuring two others, authorities said.
The Kauai Fire Department said the helicopter was carrying a pilot and four passengers when it crashed on Kalalau Beach Thursday afternoon. The beach is on the Na Pali coast on Kauai’s north shore. Otherwise, the area can only be reached by walking or boat.
The region’s geography of high coastal cliffs and sharp mountain ridges can contribute to turbulent weather and rapid weather changes that pose a danger to aviation. It was the latest in a series of fatal accidents that have plagued the industry for decades.
Three people died and two were transported to Wilcox medical center for treatment, police said. An email was sent to the medical center to find out the patients’ conditions.
Authorities determined the helicopter was operated by Airborne Aviation, a helicopter company that operates sightseeing tours of Kauai’s canyons, coastline and waterfalls. Airborne advertises an “adventure tour for thrill seekers” that accommodates up to four people.
The company’s website states that in addition to flights for fire response, public utilities and construction services, search and rescue missions are also carried out.
The National Transportation Safety Board said Friday it is investigating the crash of the Hughes/MD 500 helicopter.
“They will begin gathering information regarding the flight and plan to examine the helicopter once it is removed from the water,” the NTSB said in a statement.
In a written statement, Airborne Aviation said it was cooperating with federal investigators.
“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones affected by this devastating event, and we offer our deepest condolences during this incredibly difficult time,” Airborne Aviation said in a written statement. “Security has always been at the core of our operations and we are committed to understanding exactly what happened.”
Helicopter tours are a popular way to explore the cliffs, beaches and waterfalls that line the Na Pali coast.
At least 16 people have died in helicopter crashes in Hawaii in the past seven years, including two crashes in 2019. That year, 11 people died in a parachute plane crash in Hawaii; Investigators blamed the pilot’s aggressive takeoff.
In 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration created a new process for air tour operators who want to fly at lower altitudes in Hawaii, including pilot training and qualifications as well as recommendations on aircraft equipment. The agency said it will thoroughly review each operator’s safety plan before issuing permits.
Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami thanked the coordinated efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard and local police, fire and security agencies.
“Here on Kauai, every time someone puts their foot on our soil, they are one of us, we treat them like one of our own, they are part of our family and our first responders respond in that spirit,” he said in an interview with Hawaii News Now.
In July 2024, a tour helicopter crashed on Kauai, killing the pilot and two passengers. National Transportation Safety Board investigators found that the plane broke apart in flight after hitting turbulence, causing the main rotor blades to strike the fuselage.
In April 2019, three people were killed when a tour helicopter crashed near Honolulu, and in December, seven people, including three children, were killed when a helicopter crashed in turbulent weather conditions near the Na Pali Coast. Witnesses and other pilots reported fog, rain and poor visibility at the time of the accident, and some pilots turned back.
