Three people died and two others were injured after an Airborne Aviation tour helicopter crashed on the afternoon of March 26, 2026, near Kalalau Beach on Kauai’s remote Na Pali Coast, according to county officials. The helicopter was carrying one pilot and four passengers.
Kauai Police Dispatch received a text-to-911 message at about 15:45 local time reporting that a helicopter had crashed into the ocean near Kalalau Beach, the County of Kauai said. In an earlier update, county officials said all five people aboard had been injured. A later county release said three people had died and two others were transported to Wilcox Medical Center in Lihue for treatment.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the helicopter as a Hughes 500. The National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating the crash and plans to examine the helicopter after crews recover it from the water.
The Coast Guard said bystanders and Kauai Fire Department crews rescued the two survivors and helped medically evacuate them. Multiple agencies responded to the crash, including the Coast Guard, Kauai Fire Department, Kauai Emergency Management Agency, American Medical Response, the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Kauai Police Department.
Airborne Aviation is a Kauai-based helicopter operator in Lihue that runs doors-off sightseeing flights in Hughes 500 helicopters and also performs utility work for government and private clients. Public state records show the company has operated from Lihue Airport for the last several years.
Kalalau Beach sits along Kauai’s north shore on the Na Pali Coast, an area accessible only by boat, helicopter or hiking trail. Helicopter tours are a popular way for visitors to see the coastline’s cliffs, beaches and waterfalls.
