Canadian teen dies in helicopter crash in Pearl Harbour

A Canadian family remains in hospital after a dramatic helicopter crash in Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor on Thursday.

The pilot of a tour helicopter that crashed in Pearl Harbor last week felt a vibration then heard a grinding noise and a loud bang before heading toward a grassy area to attempt a landing, federal regulators said Wednesday in a preliminary report on the incident. He was a student at Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute.

Riley Dobson was a horse jumper who competed in several equestrian shows throughout the province. The Upper Grand District School Board issued a statement Tuesday that said it was “extremely saddened” to learn of his death. The Navy said the aircraft was taken to Genesis Aviation’s hangar at the airport, where the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct an investigation. “Another family member was treated Thursday at an area hospital and released”, Chief Operating Officer Gidget Ruscetta said.

Their names have not been released.

Two other passengers and the pilot were seriously injured.

Federal authorities are investigating the crash. A man answering the phone at a number listed for Gebhard said: “I’m sorry, there’s no comment”.

Initially, it was reported that all five people on board had miraculously survived the crash, captured on video plunging into the water.

“All of a sudden it essentially just fell out of the sky and crash-landed in the water”, said USA tourist Shawn Winrich, who dove into the water to help.