Tragedy Strikes Near Honolulu Airport: Two Pilots Killed in Devastating Plane Crash
A routine training flight turns deadly near Honolulu as two pilots lose their lives when their plane crashes into an empty building. 🌐 #News #HonoluluHI #Hawaii #Accident
HONOLULU, HI – A routine training flight in Hawaii turned tragic on Tuesday afternoon when a small plane crashed near Honolulu’s busy Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Sadly, two pilots lost their lives. In a matter of seconds, the pilots of the Kamaka Air Cessna 208 went from navigating a standard lesson to fighting for control, with devastating results. As the aircraft plummeted toward a vacant building, it sparked a chain of events that left the aviation community in shock and the investigation into the cause just beginning.
Crash Details and Response
The incident took place at 3:13 p.m. on December 17, 2024, when a Cessna 208, a cargo aircraft operated by Kamaka Air, crashed into a building owned by the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT). Kamaka Air confirmed the loss of the two pilots, calling them “members of the Kamaka Air family.” Their identities have not been released, pending notification of their families.
The building, which was unoccupied at the time, is awaiting demolition. The crash did not cause significant damage to other structures, though witnesses reported that the pilots appeared to steer the aircraft away from nearby buildings, including a fuel farm, in an effort to minimize further impacts.
Communication and Investigation Underway
Radio transmissions between the aircraft and air traffic controllers reveal that the situation was critical before the crash. A controller asked, “You’re turning right, correct?” to which the pilot responded, “We’re out of control here.”
Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen said the fire was contained to the exterior of the building by the Honolulu Fire Department. Despite the crash, airport operations continued without disruption. However, Ualena and Aolele Streets near the crash site were temporarily closed.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and local authorities. Kamaka Air has pledged full cooperation with the investigation, offering their support to the NTSB, FAA, and HDOT as they work to determine what caused the crash.
Official Statements and Ongoing Investigation
Kamaka Air expressed deep sorrow in their statement: “We are making ourselves available to the Hawaiian Department of Transportation, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Federal Aviation Administration for investigation into this accident, and we will also share appropriate information with the media as it is confirmed over the coming hours and days.”
Hawaii Governor Josh Green also offered his condolences: “Jaime’s and my hearts go out to the pilot and passenger and their families as well as to all who have experienced this traumatic event. Our Department of Transportation team will provide all necessary support to federal officials, whose job it will be to investigate this incident and determine a cause, which may not be known for some time.”
The investigation into the crash is still ongoing, and authorities are working to piece together the events that led to the tragedy. It could take weeks or months before the cause of the crash is fully understood.
RELATED TOPICS: Accidents | Airports | Hawaii
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