March 27, 2026 / 4:48 AM EDT / CBS/AP
Hanalei, Hawaii — A helicopter crashed Thursday afternoon off Kalalau Beach on Kauai’s Na Pali Coast, killing three people and injuring two, authorities said.
The aircraft, carrying a pilot and four passengers, went down about 100 yards offshore, the U.S. Coast Guard told CBS News. Kauai Police and the Kauai Fire Department reported three fatalities and said two survivors were taken to Wilcox Medical Center for treatment.
Officials identified the operator as Airborne Aviation. Helicopter tours are a common way for visitors to see the Na Pali Coast’s dramatic cliffs, beaches and waterfalls, features otherwise reachable only by hiking or boat.
Local and federal responders carried out recovery and rescue operations at the scene. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash and said they will release additional information as it becomes available.