Three people have died and two are injured after a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the sea off Hawaii.
A pilot and four passengers were aboard the aircraft when it crashed on Thursday afternoon off Kalalau Beach, on the island of Kauai, the fire department said.
The chopper hit the ocean around 100 yards offshore and all five people on board were pulled from the water, according to the Coast Guard.
Situated on the Na Pali Coast on Kauai’s North Shore, the area is otherwise reachable only by hiking or boat, and is known for its tall seaside cliffs and sharp mountain ridges.
But its geography can also contribute to turbulent air patterns and quick weather changes that pose hazards for aviation.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said its investigators would now probe the crash of the Hughes/MD 500 helicopter.
“They will begin gathering information surrounding the flight and plan to examine the helicopter once it is recovered from the water,” the NTSB said.
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Officials said the helicopter was operated by Airborne Aviation, which offers sightseeing flights of Kauai’s canyons, shoreline and waterfalls.
The company advertises a “doors-off thrill seekers adventure tour” that seats up to four people.
Derek Kawakami, mayor of Kauai, thanked the emergency services for their efforts.
He told Hawaii News Now: “Here on Kauai, whenever somebody puts their feet on our soil, they’re one of ours, we treat them like one of ours, they’re a part of our family, and our first responders respond with that spirit in mind.”
It’s the latest in a series of fatal crashes affecting the helicopter tourism trade.
Read more:
Five dead in a helicopter crash on Mount Kilimanjaro
New York helicopter crash tour company to close immediately
In the past seven years, at least 16 people have died in helicopter crashes in Hawaii, including two crashes in 2019.
While in New York, a family of five were killed along with their pilot when their helicopter crashed in the Hudson River last year.
