1 dead and 2 missing in helicopter crash off the Hawaiian island of Kauai; rescue operation underway

“Multiple agencies are continuing a search and recovery operation,” Kauai Police said in a statement. The United States Coast Guard, Kauai Fire Department and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency are among those involved.

According to police, the helicopter crashed on Thursday “about a quarter mile offshore from Hanakoa Valley on the Na Pali coast” in the northwest of the island.

According to a preliminary police report, hikers on the Kalalau Trail along the coast witnessed the helicopter crash into the water and reported the incident to Kauai Police Department dispatch at around 1:20 p.m. local time.

Police added that the body of a passenger recovered at around 2:25 p.m. local time, two others were still missing early Friday.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the families affected by this tragedy. We will continue to work with our partners to locate the missing individuals and provide them with support during this difficult time,” Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck said in the statement. “Our multi-agency response remains focused on search and recovery efforts.”

According to its website, Ali’i Kauai Air Tours and Charters uses Robinson R44 helicopters that accommodate three passengers per tour with large window seats and unobstructed views. Tour prices start at $359 per person. An FAA spokesperson confirmed to The Post via email on Friday that the helicopter was a Robinson R44.

“While we do not know all the details of the incident at this time, we know that our emergency responders are doing everything in their power to respond to this emergency. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of everyone involved,” said Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami.

Kauai, an island northwest of Oahu, is surrounded by high mountains and rugged cliffs that served as the backdrop for the Jurassic Park film series and make it popular with tourists. The island, with a population of 73,000, is nearly 80 percent uninhabited and much of it is a state park. The terrain is riddled with cliffs, canyons and forests, and there are few inland roads.

The FAA said it would investigate the incident and issue a preliminary incident report in the coming days. The National Transportation Safety Board also said it would launch an investigation into the incident.

Hawaii’s acting governor, Sylvia Luke (D-R), said in a statement that the state “is fully prepared to work with Kauai County and our federal partners. We thank all responders and agency partners for their support during this difficult time.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed a temporary flight ban in the search area for the duration of this operation, police said. Search and rescue missions are scheduled to resume early Friday, they said.

In 2019, seven people, including three children, were killed in a helicopter crash after a mission off Kauai.