A film crew was sent via helicopter to capture a shot inside the Pu’u ‘O’o crater of Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano, in Hawaii. However, the helicopter ended up crashing into the wall of the volcano due to the low visibility.

Incredibly, the three men aboard the helicopter were uninjured and they managed to narrowly miss landing in a bubbling pool of lava. The film crew, Michael Benson and Chris Duddy, attempted to climb the volcano walls to no avail while the pilot, Craig Hosking, attempted to radio for help.

Benson and Duddy lost sight of Hosking completely, but the sounds of a helicopter hovering overhead gave them a glimmer of hope. Unfortunately, Benson and Duddy were invisible due to the fog and clouds. The two were forced to spend a night in the volcano and the next morning, Duddy decided to risk climbing the walls while Benson decided to stay behind.

Duddy managed to escape the volcano, but Benson still had no idea of the fate of his colleagues. Eventually, after two days without sleep or food, a helicopter spotted Benson through a chance break in the steam and lifted him to safety.