A sightseeing helicopter went down Thursday on a secluded stretch of beach along Hawaii’s Kauai island, leaving multiple people hurt, according to local fire officials.
The aircraft was transporting five people total — one pilot and four passengers — when it went down at Kalalau Beach, according to the Kauai Fire Department. The crash site sits along the island’s northern coastline on the Na Pali Coast.
Fire officials have confirmed that people were hurt in the incident, though the exact number of injured individuals and the extent of their injuries remains unknown at this time.
Aerial tours by helicopter have become a favored method for visitors to view the dramatic coastline of the Na Pali Coast, with its towering cliffs, pristine beaches and cascading waterfalls. The rugged terrain can only be reached on foot through challenging hikes or by watercraft.
