A Hawaii tour helicopter crashed on a remote beach on the island of Kauai, leaving one person injured on Tuesday.
The harrowing incident occurred at around 1.40 pm local time at Honopu Beach on the Napali Coast, with four passengers and a pilot on board.
Kauai Fire Department personnel stationed at the Hanalei Fire Station responded to the scene, and a helicopter from the department was also dispatched for assistance.
The passenger who suffered a back injury was airlifted to Princeville Airport, where paramedics from American Medical Response awaited.
Jack Harter Helicopters, the company operating the crashed helicopter, dispatched another helicopter to retrieve the pilot and the remaining three passengers.
A Hawaii tour helicopter crashed on a remote beach on the island of Kauai, leaving one person injured on Tuesday
The harrowing incident occurred at around 1:40 pm local time at Honopu Beach on the Napali Coast, with four passengers and a pilot on board
Jack Harter Helicopters, the company operating the crashed helicopter, dispatched another helicopter to retrieve the pilot and the remaining three passengers
A picture released by the fire department captures the aftermath of the crash, as the crumpled helicopter laid scattered across the sandy shore.
Rescue personnel were on the scene, while three individuals, seemingly tourists, were talking near the remnants of the Jack Harter helicopter.
The cause of the helicopter crash remains unclear as of Wednesday afternoon, and the condition of the injured passenger was not immediately provided.
The plane crashed on Honopu Beach, a rugged stretch of the island that is only accessible by hiking, kayaking or helicopter tour.
Jack Harter helicopter is a local family-owned business that has provided tours and rides in Kauai for more than 60 years.
The company was awarded the title of best tour provider in the area in 2023, according to its website.
The tour provider is renowned for its doors-off helicopter ride, which lasts for 65 minutes and costs more than $300 per person.
Jack Harter helicopter is a local family-owned business that has provided tours and rides in Kauai for more than 60 years. The company was awarded the best tour provider in the area in 2023, according to its website
The tour provider is renowned for its doors-off helicopter ride, which lasts for 65 minutes and costs more than $300 per person
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The company wrote in a social media post recently: 'Safety has always been our number one priority. Definitely something to take into consideration when choosing a heli company to fly with.
'Ask yourself, would you expect the best quality from the cheapest option? I didn’t think so,' it continued.
Daren Jenner, a lifeguard and public safety consultant with the International Surf Lifesaving Association, notes that the crash underscores the risks posed by the tour businesses.
He said: 'Glad no one was killed. The volume of helicopter traffic over our Island has become out of control, with up to 20 flights at a given time. This isn’t the first crash, and it won’t be the last.'
DailyMail.com has reached out to Jack Harter Helicopters for further information and comments.
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