Illinois Family Survives Hard Helicopter Landing in Waiheʻe

Helicopter hard landing in Waiheʻe. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

A family of six from Bellevue, Illinois was able to walk away from the scene of a hard helicopter landing in Waiheʻe on Maui on Tuesday morning, fire officials said.

The incident was reported at around 9:51 a.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2014, in an open field with tall grass between a rural home and the ocean north of Waiheʻe stream.

Those aboard included four teenage girls, ages 18, 17, 15 and 13, as well as their parents and the pilot, fire officials tell Maui Now.

Those aboard the Sunshine helicopter tour were safe and did not require medical treatment, said Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gccSwpa7H2o /] The company sent another helicopter to retrieve the family and take them back the Kahului heliport.

According to Mainaga, the helicopter experienced some type of mechanical problem and was forced to land in the open pasture.

Crews responding to the incident included the Maui Fire Department’s Air 1 helicopter, Rescue 10, Hazmat 10 from Kahului, and Engine 1 from Wailuku.

***Check back for video from the scene, which will be posted shortly.

Helicopter hard landing in Waiheʻe. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Helicopter hard landing in Waiheʻe. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Helicopter hard landing in Waiheʻe. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Helicopter hard landing in Waiheʻe. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Helicopter hard landing in Waiheʻe. Photo by Wendy Osher.