About a quarter of a mile (0.4 kilometers) off the Na Pali Coast, a hiker on the Kalalau route saw the helicopter fall into the water.
One person and leaving two more missing.
According to authorities, the most recent in a string of incidents that have beset the tour sector in recent years was a tour operator helicopter that crashed off the Hawaiian island of Kauai, killing one person and leaving two more missing.
The company boasts over thirty years of flying experience and is the only Hawaiian family-owned and operated aviation tour company on Kauai. It provides individual flights or helicopter tours.
Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck says
At a press conference on Friday, Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck stated, “Preliminary information indicates that the pilot on board was a resident, and the two passengers on board are believed to be visitors from the mainland.” The authorities’ identities were not disclosed.
According to Kauai Fire Chief Michael Gibson, they also noticed some floating debris and what looked to be an oil slick on the ocean.
Gibson stated, “We do not believe the weather was a concern,” citing winds of between 15 and 25 mph, light clouds, and sporadic showers as typical conditions for the time of year.
Records from the scene and assessment.
The National Transportation Safety Board will conduct a probe. The agency announced on Friday that an NTSB inspector will start recording the scene and inspecting the aircraft as soon as it is recovered.
After that, the aircraft will be recovered to a safe location for additional assessment.
New procedure
In response to several deadly incidents, the Federal Aviation Administration launched a new procedure last year that allows flying tour companies in Hawaii to obtain permission to fly at lower altitudes.
Tour companies can only fly at 1,500 feet (460 meters) unless they obtain permission to descend lower. Before granting approval, the FAA promised to examine each operator’s safety plan.
Previous accidents
Following three fatal crashes in 2019, one of which claimed the lives of a pilot and six passengers on the Na Pali Coast, the action was taken.
The NTSB cited the pilot’s choice to continue flying in poor weather as the cause of the tragedy.
Eleven people perished when their skydiving plane crashed on Oahu’s North Shore after takeoff, while three individuals died in a tour helicopter incident in a neighborhood of Honolulu.
Federal authorities attributed the pilot’s forceful takeoff as the cause of the disaster.
