HELICOPTER CRASHES DOWNTOWN; NO SERIOUS INJURIES
A helicopter performed an emergency landing at Fort Street Mall and skidded out onto Fort St. at approximately 3:20 pm on Wednesday afternoon. The female pilot and male passenger were uninjured and no other people were reported harmed. Shown
A helicopter made a hard landing on Fort Street in downtown Honolulu. There were no serious injuries. (Courtesy Kawehi Haug)
A firefighter talks to the passenger of the crashed helicopter on Fort Street this afternoon, as the female pilot stands nearby.(Gordon Pang/gpang@staradvertiser.com)
A helicopter crashed on Fort Street between the high-rise Kukui Plaza apartment building and the fire station. A parking lot of Kukui Plaza can be seen in the foreground. The firestation is across the street. (Gary Chun/gchun@staradvertiser.com)
A helicopter made an emergency landing in downtown Honolulu this afternoon, landing next to a parked Mazada on Fort Street next to the highrise Kukui Plaza apartment building. (Gary Chun/gchun@staradvertiser.com)
Honolulu firefighters respond to a helicopter crash next to the fire station on Kukui Street near Beretania Street this afternoon. (Leila Fujimori/lfujimori@staradvertiser.com)
Honolulu police examine the scene of a helicopter crash this afternoon on Fort Street next to the highrise Kukui Plaza building. (Courtesy: Damian Davila @idaconcpts)
Honolulu police and firefighters examine a helicopter that crashed on Fort Street between Beretania and Kukui Streets this afternoon.
A firefighter walks away from a helicopter that crashed on Fort Street in downtown Honolulu this afternoon. (Courtesy Gene Park)
A helicopter crashed on Fort Street between Beretania and Kukui streets this afernoon, clipping a black Mazda. There were no serious injuries.
Photo Gallery: Helicopter crash in downtown Honolulu
A helicopter crash-landed in downtown Honolulu this afternoon, but the pilot and passenger walked away with no serious injuries.
A 30-year-old woman pilot and 72-year-old male passenger refused treatment at the scene after the helicopter made an emergency landing, according to the city Emergency Medical Services Division. The male passenger had a cut on his head, and the pilot had no injuries, an EMS spokeswoman
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Robinson R22 Beta helicopter had engine failure and landed on Fort Street, striking a car.
Police closed Beretania, Kukui and Fort streets because of what they called a "non-fatal helicopter crash" at about 3:20 p.m. Beretania Street was re-opened about 5 p.m., but Fort Street remained closed.
According to the FAA registry, the helicopter with tail number “N5ZK” is owned by HLM Aviation Services Inc., whose agent is Benjamin Fouts. The helicopter was determined to be air worthy or safe to fly on June 10, 1992, according to the registry.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
The pilot was able to land on Fort Street but a rotor hit a parked Mazda sedan severly damaging the car, between the Kukui Plaza building and the fire station on Beretania Street.
“It looked like it was driving down the street,” she said.
Hookano pulled into a parking stall and saw the helicopter had crashed and hit the hood of a black Mazda.
"I came from my exam from school and I can’t believe I see my car in an accident from a helicopter," said Matthew Lau, the owner of the Mazda. "I’m shocked."
Hookano said she saw a woman helping an older man exit the helicopter.
The helicopter was on a photo shoot above Punchbowl when the it had mechanical problems, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig. “Very minor injuries, it’s amazing,” he said.
Seelig said firefighters from the nearby fire station heard the crash and helped the pilot and passenger.
____
Star-Advertiser reporters Leila Fujimori, Gordon Y.K. Pang, Gary T. Kubota, Andy Yamaguchi and Craig Gima contributed to this story.
