Three people have died, and two others have been transported to the hospital after a helicopter crashed into the ocean near Kalalau Beach on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi
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One pilot and four passengers were on board at the time of the crash, which occurred on Thursday, March 26, at approximately 3:45 p.m. local time
Officials confirmed the helicopter was being operated by Airborne Aviation
Three people have died and two more have been hospitalized following a helicopter crash in Hawaii.
On Thursday, March 26 at approximately 3:45 p.m. local time, Kauaʻi Police Dispatch received a text-to-911 message that a helicopter had crashed into the ocean near Kalalau Beach on the Nā Pali Coast in northwest Kauaʻi, pera Kauaʻi Police Department (KPD) release, citing a preliminary report.
"Officials have identified the helicopter as being operated by Airborne Aviation, with one pilot and four passengers," the release noted, adding that the incident "resulted in three fatalities."
Police said that two survivors had been transported to Wilcox Medical Center in Lihue for treatment, per the release.
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The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that the incident occurred approximately 300 feet offshore, perHawaii News Now.
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"Personnel and resources from the Kauaʻi Fire Department, the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency, the United States Coast Guard, American Medical Response, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Kauaʻi Police Department are actively involved in the response," the police release added.
Police concluded, "No further information is available at this time. Updates will be provided as they become available."
Kauaʻi Mayor, Derek Kawakami, described the location of the crash as being "very, very isolated" in a clip shared byKHON2 Newsand said it was "very tricky" to "get down into," thanking authorities for their "phenomenal" response to the incident.
Some waterfalls, beaches and cliffs in the region are only accessible via boat or hiking on the Nā Pali Coast, so helicopter tours have become a popular way to explore the area, per theAssociated Press.
PEOPLE has contacted the Kauaʻi Police Department, Airborne Aviation and the U.S. Coast Guard for additional information, but didn't immediately receive a response.
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