Kīlauea summit, Hawai‘i – Video shows a helicopter overflight of Kīlauea Volcano conducted by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists during a routine monitoring mission on Thursday, February 26.

During the flight, geologists captured visual and thermal images to document changes across the crater floor following episode 42 lava fountaining at the summit on February 15, 2026. The footage specifically focuses on Halemaʻumaʻu, the main crater at Kīlauea’s summit, showing details of the lava flows and surface changes.

The overflight allowed scientists to observe and map the crater’s activity safely from above. HVO geologists also briefly landed on the crater floor at a different point to collect a cooled lava sample from the episode 42 lava flows, with permission from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

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