Honolulu Emergency Medical Services person Shayne Enright told the Associated Press that she was responding to an unrelated call when she heard "a horrific bang"
A Hawaiian tour helicopter fell from the sky on Monday morning, killing three passengers onboard in the Honolulu suburb of Kailua, according to the Associated Press.
The small, Marine Corps town of about 50,000 people — located just half an hour outside of downtown Honolulu — awoke to the sight of the fiery aviation incident that morning.
“All you could see was fire,” Melissa Solomon, a witness who said she had been driving on the street when she saw the helicopter dive from the sky and crash, explained to the Associated Press.
Honolulu Emergency Medical Services person Shayne Enright told the outlet that she was responding to an unrelated call when she heard “a horrific bang” from about 30 yards away.
“When they got there, neighbors were doing a heroic job trying to put out the fire and also trying to get the patients away from the burning aircraft,” Enright said.
Following the morning accident, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor told the Associated Press that while the cause of the crash is still unknown, the helicopter — registered to United Helicopter Leasing LLC of Honolulu, according to FAA records — was believed to have had three passengers on board the four-seat, Robinson R44 aircraft.
State business records identified Nicole Vandelaar as the founder and CEO of the Novictor Helicopters tour company, which manages the United Helicopter Leasing company through which the helicopter was registered.
According to the Novictor Helicopters website, Vandelaar is an expert pilot who is commercially licensed to fly helicopters and airplanes.
Novictor Helicopters did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Since the crash, Hawaii Rep. Cynthia Thielen has urged the state’s congressional delegation to ask the Federal Aviation Administration to implement restrictions to prohibit tour aviation from flying over the state’s residential areas and national parks.
According to the AP, the Republican representative has also called for tour helicopter flights to be grounded during the investigation of the crash.