Three people have been confirmed dead and two others injured after a tour helicopter crashed into the ocean near Kalalau Beach on the island of Kauai, authorities said.
Police were alerted to the incident at about 3:45 p.m. local time, following reports that an aircraft had gone down just offshore. The crash occurred along the rugged Na Pali Coast, a remote stretch on Kauai’s north shore.
The U.S. Coast Guard said the helicopter came down roughly 100 yards (about 91 metres) from the shoreline. It was operated by Airborne Aviation and was carrying five people — one pilot and four passengers.
“All five occupants from the helicopter were pulled from the water,” a Coast Guard spokesperson said, as cited by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Two survivors were taken to Wilcox Medical Center for treatment.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Tyler Robertson confirmed that the crash happened “about 100 yards offshore of Kalalau Beach,” with rescue teams deploying both a boat and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to assist.
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Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Kauai Fire Department, Kauai Police Department and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Officials have urged the public to stay away from the area, warning that wreckage, fuel and oil remain in the water as recovery operations continue.
Helicopter tours are commonly used to view the Na Pali Coast’s steep cliffs and isolated beaches, which are otherwise difficult to access. The latest crash is the second deadly tour helicopter incident in the area in under two years.