Airborne Aviation, a Hawaii-based helicopter tour operator, has suspended operations indefinitely following a fatal crash off Kauai’s Nā Pali Coast that left three people dead and two others injured.
The accident occurred March 26 near Kalalau Beach, when a Hughes/MD 500 helicopter went down in the ocean during a sightseeing flight. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and four passengers.
Company officials said all tour flights have been halted as the investigation continues.
“We have suspended all operations for an indefinite period of time until we’re certain we can continue safely,” the company’s director of operations said in a statement following the crash.
According to sources, the accident site just offshore from the remote Kalalau Beach is known for rugged terrain, rapidly changing weather and limited access, factors that complicated rescue efforts.
First responders, along with bystanders and other tour operators in the area, assisted in extracting victims from the wreckage and providing initial medical aid.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are working to investigate the cause of the crash.
The accident adds to longstanding safety concerns surrounding Hawaii’s air tour industry. There were two helicopter crashes in Hawaii in 2019, and the state leads the nation in fatal air tour accidents, with more than 85 deaths recorded since the NTSB began tracking the data.
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