Three people have died after a helicopter crashed off the Hawaiian island of Kauai, police said.
The helicopter was carrying one pilot and four passengers, police stated. Two survivors were taken to a hospital for treatment.
Officials revealed the helicopter was operated by Airborne Aviation, a company known for offering 'a doors-off thrill seekers adventure tour' of the island's stunning waterfalls, canyons, and beaches.
The US Coast Guard affirmed that the helicopter crash-landed about 100 yards off Kalalau Beach, with authorities still awaiting the identification of the victims.
Emergency responders, including the police, Coast Guard, and fire department, arrived shortly after receiving an alert about the crash at around 15:45 local time (01:45 GMT).
Kauai's Mayor Derek Kawakami commended the recovery efforts, stating: Here on Kaua'i, whenever somebody puts their feet on our soil, they are one of ours. We treat them like one of ours, they are a part of our family, and our first responders respond with that spirit in mind.
Andrew Williams, a search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard in Honolulu, expressed sadness over the tragic loss: We are greatly saddened by the loss of three lives in this helicopter crash and thinking of those individuals' families and friends.
Helicopter tours are a popular attraction for visitors to Kauai, a location famously featured in the film Jurassic Park. Airborne Aviation's 50-minute tour offers a capacity of four passengers at a cost of $348 each.
The incident marks the latest in a series of fatal helicopter crashes in Kauai, with a previous incident in July 2024 resulting in three fatalities attributed to turbulence-related issues.
BBC News has reached out to Airborne Aviation for further comment.
