3 killed in tourist helicopter crash on the Hawaiian island of Kauai

HANALEI, Hawaii -- A tourer chopper crashed connected a distant formation connected the Hawaiian land of Kauai, sidesplitting 3 radical and injuring 2 others, authorities said.

The chopper was carrying 1 aviator and 4 passengers erstwhile it crashed Thursday day astatine Kalalau Beach, the Kauai Fire Department said. The formation is connected the Na Pali Coast connected Kauai's northbound shore. The country is different reachable lone by hiking oregon boat.

Police said 3 radical died and 2 others were transported to Wilcox Medical Center for treatment. An email was sent to the aesculapian halfway seeking the patients' conditions.

Officials identified the chopper arsenic being operated by Airborne Aviation, a chopper institution that does sightseeing tours of Kauai's canyons, shoreline and waterfalls. Airborne advertises a "doors-off thrill seekers escapade tour" that seats up to 4 people.

An email was sent to the institution seeking comment.

Helicopter tours are a fashionable mode to research the cliffs, beaches and waterfalls lining the Na Pali Coast.

Derek Kawakami, politician of Kauai, thanked the coordinated efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard and section police, occurrence and information agencies.

"Here connected Kauai, whenever idiosyncratic puts their feet connected our soil, they're 1 of ours, we dainty them similar 1 of ours, they're a portion of our family, and our archetypal responders respond with that tone successful mind," helium said successful an interrogation with Hawaii News Now.

In July 2024, a circuit chopper crashed connected Kauai, sidesplitting the aviator and 2 passengers. It broke up in-flight aft it deed turbulence, causing the main rotor blades to onslaught its airframe, National Transportation Safety Board investigators found.