A Kamaka Air crash near Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on 17 December, Tuesday afternoon, claimed the lives of two pilots.
The accident occurred at around 3:05 p.m. when a training flight of a Kamaka Air Cessna 208 Caravan collided with an abandoned building on Aolele Street. Fortunately, the state-owned structure was scheduled for demolition.
The names of the two pilots who died have been made public by sources close to the families, but the victims have not yet been formally identified, according to Island News. Hiram DeFries, a 22-year-old graduate of Punahou School from Papakolea who was undergoing training to obtain his pilot's license, was identified as one of the pilots. The other pilot was identified as Preston Kaluhiwa, a graduate of Kamehameha Schools.
Hawaii News reported chilling audio transmissions between Kamaka Air 689 and the control tower, capturing the moments before the crash. The pilot’s distress was evident as he communicated the aircraft’s instability:
Tower: "Kamaka Flight 689, you’re turning right, correct?"
Pilot: "Kamaka 689, we are, we have, uh, we’re out of control here."
Tower: "Okay, Kamaka 689, if you can land, if you can level it off, that’s fine. Any runway, any place you can do."you can level it off, that’s fine. Any runway, any place you can do.
Witnesses to the Kamaka Air Crash described it as a chaotic and alarming scene. As reported by Hawaii News Now, one witness working nearby recounted hearing a sudden, deafening crash, followed by a massive plume of smoke rising from the impact site.
Another witness Nancy Timko, situated on the seventh floor of a nearby office, noticed the aircraft flying unusually low and banking back toward the airport. Moments later, she heard a loud explosion.
Fire officials confirmed that the plane struck the exterior stairwell of a vacant building, with flames contained to the outside, averting further damage to the structure.
Responses to the Kamaka Air Crash
According to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, city officials released a statement post the Kamaka Air Crash:
“The Honolulu Emergency Operations Center is partially activated in response to the incident near the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. The City’s Department of Emergency Management is monitoring the situation, and multiple first responder agencies, including the Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu Police Department, have responded to the incident.”
Kamaka Air CEO David Hinderland also issued a statement addressing the crash. In the statement, Hinderland started by outlining the details of the crash, then following it up:
“In the meantime, 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."
He concluded the statement by asking for patience regarding the release of further information to ensure it is correct and accurate.
Governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, also shared a statement on his X confirming the operational status of the airport facilities:
“All airport facilities are operational; however, the roads surrounding the plane crash are closed. HDOT is coordinating with airport employees and Terminal 3 occupants to provide safe transportation to areas not needed for the response to the crash."
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The exact reason for the Kamaka Air Crash is still being investigated.
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