Authorities have confirmed that a small cargo plane, Kamaka Air Flight 689, crashed into an unoccupied building shortly after departing from Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, resulting in the tragic deaths of both pilots aboard. The incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the single-engine Cessna 208 was involved in a training flight when it went off course, veering at a low altitude before colliding with the building and igniting a fire that produced a significant plume of smoke. Audio communications between the control tower and the flight revealed a distressing situation. The pilot indicated they were “out of control,” shortly before the plane crashed.
Kamaka Air CEO David Hinderland expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their team members, although the names of the pilots are yet to be officially released. However, family members have shared that one of the victims is Hiram Defries, a young pilot in training, and the other is identified as Preston Kaluhiwa, both of whom were graduates from respected schools in Hawaii.
The FAA stated that the flight was en route to Lanai Airport in Maui County, and Kamaka Air specializes in freight delivery services. Fortunately, no other individuals were injured during the incident. An investigation by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board is underway to determine the cause of the accident.
In this time of tragedy, it is crucial for the community to come together, offering support and remembrance for the lives lost in this unfortunate event. Investigative bodies will work towards understanding the circumstances to enhance safety protocols in the aviation industry, which can hopefully lead to preventing similar incidents in the future.