Three people have died and two others were injured after a tour helicopter crashed into the ocean off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, on Friday afternoon.
The helicopter, operated by Airborne Aviation, was carrying one pilot and four passengers when it went down approximately 100 yards (91 metres) off Kalalau Beach on the island’s scenic Na Pali Coast.
According to a statement from the Kauai Police Department, two survivors were rescued and taken to a hospital for treatment. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
The crash occurred around 15:45 local time (01:45 GMT). Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, and fire department personnel responded swiftly to the scene.
Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami praised the rapid response of first responders, saying: “Here on Kaua’i, whenever somebody puts their feet on our soil, they are one of ours. We treat them like one of ours, they are a part of our family, and our first responders respond with that spirit in mind.”
Andrew Williams, Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator for the Coast Guard in Honolulu, expressed condolences: “We are greatly saddened by the loss of three lives in this helicopter crash and thinking of those individuals’ families and friends.”
Tour Operator and Context
Airborne Aviation offers “doors-off thrill seekers adventure tours” of Kauai’s waterfalls, canyons, and beaches. Its 50-minute tour, which can carry a maximum of four passengers, costs $348 (£262) per person.
This is the latest fatal helicopter crash involving a tour operator on Kauai. In July 2024, three people were killed when a helicopter from a different company crashed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that crash was caused by “an encounter with turbulence due to downdraft winds that resulted in mast bumping and an in-flight breakup.”
Helicopter tours are extremely popular among visitors to Kauai, famously known as the filming location for Jurassic Park.
The U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and NTSB have launched investigations into the cause of Friday’s crash. Airborne Aviation has not yet issued a public comment.
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.
Source: Kauai Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, and local media reports
