Hawaii Tour Helicopter Carrying 6 People Crashes Into Lava Field, 2 Injured
A tourist helicopter carrying five passengers and its pilot crashed Wednesday in a lava field on Hawaii’s Big Island. Two people were critically injured.
The helicopter crashed at about 5:30 p.m. local time while on a tour over Kau, according to Paradise Helicopters Tours of Hawaii. It crashed near South Point, the southernmost tip of the Big Island. Helicopter crews were deployed to help the victims.
NEW: Photos from Hawaii County show tour helicopter crash in lava field near South Point on Big Island - 6 people on board taken to the hospital, including pilot who was initially trapped @KITV4 pic.twitter.com/3V5ymDzxDy
— Tom George (@TheTomGeorge) June 9, 2022
The five passengers included three teenage girls, a 23-year-old man, and a 48-year-old man, as well as a male pilot who is in his 50s, said Cyrus Johnasen, a public information officer for Hawaii County.
A 19-year-old woman was in serious condition and was airlifted to the hospital, while the other five were taken by ambulance. There has been no confirmation on their status.
Paradise Helicopters is cooperating with authorities. The company had helicopter crashes in 2013 and 2019. No one was hurt in both crashes, according to reports.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash, according to Hawaii News Now.
The helicopter was identified as a Bell 407, a four-blade, single-engine chopper.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.