18-04-2025
Lawsuit filed in fatal 2024 Kauai helicopter crash
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A helicopter crash that happened off Kauai has resulted in a lawsuit after a couple that was vacationing in July 2024 was killed.
James and Amy Quintua were celebrating a vacation on Kauai when their tour helicopter went down off the Garden Isle's rugged Na Pali coast.
Molokai man, wife, and Kauai pilot identified as victims of Kauai helicopter crash
The crash killed them both, and the pilot. Now, their families are suing the company that operated the flight — Ali'i Air Tours.
'The pilot of an aircraft has an obligation not to hit stuff. Simple, pure and simple,' said Robb & Robb LLC partner Andrew C. Robb.
The lawsuit was filed by a Missouri-based aviation law firm and claims the crash was avoidable — adding the helicopter operator failed to account for dangerous weather and wind conditions along the coast.
'The weather, especially in that part of Kauai can be very, very changeable. And we see that in a lot of areas across the windward sides of the state,' said Bob Ballard, National Weather Service Science & Operations officer.
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The Federal Aviation Administration's accident report has not been finalized. A former military helicopter pilot who has flown the Na Pali Coast said it is not uncommon to get close to the cliffs, but it is not inherently dangerous either.
'Nor is it a prelude to something that could happen catastrophically, unless you're flying into that kind of terrain when the visibility is bad,' said Ray L'Heureux, former Marine helicopter squadron commander.
The NTSB preliminary report said winds were about 20 miles an hour at the time of the crash, with 10 miles of visibility. It also mentions witnesses on a nearby hiking trail reported a huge and sudden gust of wind before they heard a bang and turned to see the helicopter plummeting to the ocean below in two pieces.
'So, you know, why did the helicopter crash?' L'Heureux asked with a shrug. 'Now, I can speculate that if they got buffeted by a pretty strong gust of wind in the pilot overcorrected versus letting the aircraft just kind of ride the wave, if you will.'
The mainland legal team said they are not just seeking damages, they want to prevent another tragedy in the future.
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'James and Amy did not assume the risk of death by taking a helicopter tour,' Robb said.
Ali'i Air Tours did not respond to a request for comment.
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