A tourism helicopter carrying six passengers crashed in a lava field in Hawaii on Wednesday, authorities said.
Hawaii County said the crash occurred at about 5:30 p.m. local time near the South Point area of the Big Island, KITV reported.
Update 1:57 a.m. EDT June 9: All six helicopter passengers have been hospitalized.
Two are in critical condition: the 50-year-old pilot and an 18-year-old female passenger, KITV reported. The helicopter is a tour helicopter owned by Paradise Helicopters, the television station reported.
Original report: The pilot was originally trapped in the aircraft and unable to exit without assistance, Hawaii News Now reported.
HELICOPTER CRASH ON BIG ISLAND | Hawaii County is confirming reports of a helicopter crash on the Big Island. The crash occurred Wednesday around 5:30 pm in a lava field around the South Point area. https://t.co/eSHSirio2e
— KITV4 (@KITV4) June 9, 2022
Five people, including the 50-year-old pilot, were injured, the news organization reported. The pilot and an 18-year-old woman were in serious condition, KHON-TV reported. They were taken to a hospital by air.
Three of the passengers were taken to an area hospital by an ambulance -- another 18-year-old woman, a 19-year-old woman and a 23-year-old male, Hawaii News Now reported.
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