Helicopter crash off Kauai results in one death, two missing

An air tour helicopter crashed off the Hawaiian island of Kauai on Thursday, resulting in one fatality and leaving two individuals missing, according to state officials.

A preliminary report indicates that hikers witnessed the helicopter crash into the water around 1:20 p.m. and reported the incident to authorities. The helicopter, identified as a Robinson R44 by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), was operated by Ali’i Kauai Air Tours and Charters based in Lihue. Following the crash, the FAA issued a temporary flight restriction for search and rescue operations. The agency stated it is investigating the crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board.

According to a report from CNN, Hawaii has the highest number of deaths from air tour crashes in the nation—with 85 fatalities since the NTSB began keeping records. In light of increased scrutiny, local officials have called for stricter regulations and oversight of air tour operations in the state. New safety measures including equipment upgrades and flight data monitoring were included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.