Photo: Amelia Earhart; Lockheed Aircraft Company | CC0 | Wikimedia Commons
Three Killed, Two Injured in Airborne Aviation Tour Helicopter Crash Off Kauai’s Nā Pali Coast
An Airborne Aviation Hughes/MD 500 touring helicopter — marketed as a “doors-off thrill seekers adventure tour” — crashed into the ocean about 100 yards offshore of Kalalau Beach on Kauai’s Nā Pali Coast Thursday afternoon (reports list the time between about 3:45 p.m. and just before 5 p.m. local time), killing three of the five people aboard (one pilot and four passengers) and injuring two. The NTSB says it will examine the helicopter after it is recovered and has opened an investigation, and Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami thanked first responders and called visitors “part of our family.”
📌 Key Facts
- The helicopter was operated by Airborne Aviation and was marketed as a 'doors-off thrill seekers adventure tour' for photography.
- The crash occurred about 100 yards offshore of Kalalau Beach on Kauai’s Nā Pali Coast.
- There were one pilot and four passengers on board; three people were killed and two were injured.
- Officials reported the crash happened in the late afternoon — the New York Times cited about 3:45 p.m., while the FAA (reported by PBS) said it occurred just before 5 p.m.
- The aircraft was identified as a Hughes/MD 500 helicopter.
- The NTSB has opened an investigation and will examine the helicopter after it is recovered from the water.
- Kauai has had multiple prior fatal tour-helicopter crashes, including a 2019 weather-related crash that killed seven and a 2024 at-sea tour crash that killed three.
- Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami thanked first responders and emphasized that the island sees visitors as 'part of our family.'
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 27, 2026
4:51 PM
3 killed in tourist helicopter crash near remote beach off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Kauai
New information:
- Confirms the exact helicopter model as a Hughes/MD 500.
- Clarifies that the crash occurred 'just before 5 p.m.' local time, per the FAA.
- Notes that the NTSB will examine the helicopter after it is recovered from the water and has formally opened an investigation.
- Includes a quote from Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami emphasizing the island’s view of visitors as 'part of our family' in thanking first responders.
- Reiterates Airborne Aviation’s 'doors-off thrill seekers adventure tour' marketing framing, underscoring the nature of the flight.
1:20 PM
3 Killed in Helicopter Crash Off Hawaii
New information:
- Confirms the crash time as around 3:45 p.m. local time Thursday.
- Identifies the specific product being flown as Airborne Aviation’s “doors-off thrill seekers adventure tour” for photography.
- Adds brief historical context that Kauai has had multiple prior fatal tour-helicopter crashes, including a 2019 weather-related crash that killed seven and another tour crash at sea in 2024 that killed three.
8:48 AM
Helicopter crash off Hawaii leaves 3 dead, 2 injured, authorities say
New information:
- Confirms the helicopter was operated by Airborne Aviation.
- Specifies the crash occurred about 100 yards offshore of Kalalau Beach on Kauai’s Nā Pali Coast.
- Reiterates there were one pilot and four passengers on board, with three killed and two injured.