A remote Kauai beach was struck by a deadly helicopter crash this week. The sightseeing aircraft went down in the ocean offshore, killing three people and injuring two more.
According to Hawaii News Now, the helicopter crashed on Thursday afternoon off Kalalau Beach, located on the Na Pali coast on Kauai’s north shore. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the crash occurred on a sandbar approximately 100 yards offshore. The remote beach is only accessible by hiking or boat.
The aircraft was a Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter operated by sightseeing tour company Airborne Aviation. According to the company website, it runs hour-long “doors-off” tours. Five people were onboard: one pilot and four passengers. Three died in the crash and two others survived.
A response was mounted using personnel from the Kauai fire and police departments, the Kauai Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, American Medical Response, and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. They managed to retrieve the two survivors, who were transported to Wilcox Medical Center for treatment.
Regarding the response, Hawaii Mayor Derek Kawakami 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.”
