Two Massachusetts visitors among three killed as Kauai sightseeing helicopter crashes near Kalalau Beach

What happened

Two Massachusetts residents were among three people killed when a sightseeing helicopter crashed off Kauai’s Nā Pali Coast on Thursday, March 26, 2026. Officials said the aircraft went down just offshore of Kalalau Beach, a remote stretch of coastline that is typically reached by boat or by hiking the Kalalau Trail.

The helicopter was carrying one pilot and four passengers. Two people survived and were hospitalized with injuries. Authorities have not released their identities.

Victims identified from Massachusetts

Kauai police identified two of the fatalities as Margaret Rimmler, 65, and Patrick Haskell, 59, both from Massachusetts. The third person who died had not been publicly identified as of Friday, pending notification of family.

Response and rescue operations

Emergency dispatchers were notified at about 3:45 p.m. local time. Multiple agencies responded, including county fire rescue crews, ocean safety personnel, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Rescue operations were complicated by the location—nearshore waters along a rugged coastline with limited land access.

Survivors were transported for medical care, while responders worked to secure the scene and coordinate recovery efforts. County officials documented a multi-agency response that included air assets and rescue crews staged from the island’s North Shore.

Operator and aircraft under investigation

The helicopter was operated by Airborne Aviation, a Kauai-based company that conducts sightseeing flights and also advertises utility and mission-support services. The National Transportation Safety Board opened an investigation and said it would examine the Hughes/MD 500 helicopter after it is recovered.

Investigators typically review pilot experience and training, aircraft maintenance history, flight planning, weather conditions, onboard equipment, and any recorded data that may be available. Local authorities are supporting the federal inquiry.

Context: recurring safety scrutiny for Hawaii air tours

Helicopter tours are a popular way to view Kauai’s cliffs, waterfalls, and interior valleys, but the industry has faced longstanding scrutiny after a series of fatal crashes over decades in Hawaii. The Nā Pali Coast’s geography—steep ridgelines, narrow valleys, and rapidly changing conditions—can create turbulence and shifting visibility that pose operational challenges.

Officials have not announced a cause of the March 26 crash. The investigation is in its early stage, and any safety findings will depend on evidence recovered from the aircraft and the accident scene.

• Date and location: Thursday, March 26, 2026; offshore of Kalalau Beach on Kauai’s North Shore
• People aboard: 1 pilot and 4 passengers
• Outcome: 3 killed, 2 injured and hospitalized
• Next steps: federal investigation; examination of aircraft after recovery

This story will be updated as authorities release additional verified details, including the identity of the third fatality and the condition of the two survivors.