A tragic accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when a small cargo plane, Kamaka Air Flight 689, crashed into a vacant building shortly after taking off from Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. The collision resulted in a fire and claimed the lives of both pilots on board.
According to reports, the incident took place around 3:15 p.m. The single-engine Cessna 208 was in the midst of a training flight, aiming to reach Lanai Airport in Maui County when it veered off course and crashed into the building, generating a significant plume of black smoke visible from a distance.
Audio recordings reveal a conversation between the control tower and the pilots just moments before the crash. The tower had acknowledged a potential issue when the pilot expressed that they were “out of control.” Despite guidance to attempt a level landing at any available runway, the aircraft unfortunately did not recover.
In a statement reflecting on the loss, Kamaka Air’s CEO David Hinderland conveyed deep condolences for the deceased members of their team, whose names have yet to be officially released. Family members have since identified one of the victims as Hiram Defries, a young pilot in training, and the other as Preston Kaluhiwa.
Fortunately, no one else was injured in the incident. Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
This unfortunate event serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with aviation training. The aviation community will undoubtedly come together to support the families impacted by this loss and continue striving for safety improvements in training and operational practices.
In summary, while this incident is undoubtedly tragic, it also highlights the importance of community and support during difficult times. As investigations proceed, there will be opportunities for learning and improvement in aviation safety protocols.