Federal regulators have blocked a Hawaii tour company from letting tourists jump into the ocean from a hovering helicopter, a setback for the business but a win for safety rules.

• The FAA turned down Trident Adventures' request to let passengers unbuckle and jump from a helicopter hovering 10 to 35 feet above the water.
• The company runs snorkel and scuba tours this way and says it has done more than 3,600 jumps since 2019 with no accidents.
• The FAA's worry is the moment passengers stand up and step outside the aircraft — and what happens if the engine fails during the hover.
• The company argues the rules already allow skydivers to unbuckle, so a 10-foot drop into water should not be treated differently.
• Trident says it will keep operating and growing in Hawaii, serving military and tourist customers.

Outlook: The company can appeal the decision, but for now this kind of tour — the only one of its kind in the US — is grounded in its current form.