The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the hard landing of a medivac helicopter while making an approach to Kona International Airport late Tuesday afternoon.
The incident occurred just short of the chopper’s landing pad at 5:12 p.m., said Caroline Sluyter, spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.
Two people were aboard the aircraft. One was taken to a hospital with back pain, while the other was uninjured.
FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said the Eurocopter AS350 helicopter sustained substantial damage in the landing.
The helicopter is registered to the Eagle Air Med, a Utah-based air ambulance service.
Calls there were directed to the offices of Hawaii Life Flight in Honolulu.
A person named Chris who answered the phone there declined to discuss the incident or confirm whether one of the company’s aircraft was involved.
“I’ve got no comment,” he said, before hanging up.
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