'Kept losing altitude': Witnesses describe moment plane crashed near airport, killing 2
Dec 18, 2024
Editor's note: The above video contains footage of a deadly plane crash as taken by a driver near the Honolulu International Airport.
HONOLULU (KHON) – Two people aboard a training flight with Kamaka Air have died after their aircraft crashed into an abandoned building near the Honolulu International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Transportation has confirmed.
The Hawaii DOT, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, are investigating the crash.
Witnesses said they saw the plane going down just before it crashed at around 3:17 p.m.
"I saw this plane coming from the south end and going around and losing altitude. Coming down it looked like it was like over the United Cargo and going on towards the main terminal but it kept losing altitude, kept losing altitude and losing altitude until there was a big crash. And that's when everything was just black," one witness, who identified herself as Sister Alicia, told Nexstar's KHON.
Hawaii State Sen. Lynn DeCoite also witnessed the crash while waiting for her husband to arrive at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, aka the Honolulu International Airport.
"I'm assuming it had taken off and it was coming back around," Sen. DeCoite told KHON. "So when it came back around, it literally passed the yellow building that is there. And it, you could just, because I heard the sound of the engine revving as it needed to climb and it just took a nosedive. It clipped the top of the building. So, at that point, we couldn't see the top of the building because it was still behind Delta Cargo."
Black smoke is seen coming from the site of a plane crash near Honolulu's airport on Dec. 17, 2024. (Courtesy Sen. Decoite)Damage is seen to a building where a plane crash occurred on Dec. 17, 2024. (Courtesy Sen. Decoite)First responders at the scene of a deadly plane crash near Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Dec. 17, 2024.A ladder can be seen leading to the roof of a building where a plane crashed on Dec. 17, 2024.
In video provided to KHON, thick black smoke was seen billowing out near a building in the industrial area as federal fire trucks were seen heading to the scene from the airport.
Honolulu Fire Department Chief Sheldon Hao said most of the wreckage ended up on the ground, in a parking lot.
Ed Sniffen of the Hawaii Department of Transportation said early reports showed that the pilot made adjustments during the ordeal, perhaps intent on placing the plane down in a safe place, and avoiding the nearby Skyline track as well as fuel storage tanks.
Flight recordings also indicated Kamaka Air 689 was in contact with the air traffic control tower when the plane reportedly lost "control."
"You're turning right, right?" an air traffic controller could be heard asking the crew.
"We are, we have, uh, we're out of control here," came the response.
"OK, if you can land, if you can level it off, that's fine. Any runway, any place you can do," the controller said.
Kamaka Air CEO Dave Hinderland read a statement asking for privacy for the grieving families of the two pilots and vowing to assist the Hawaii DOT, FAA and NTSB in the crash investigation.
"We will also share appropriate information with the media as it is confirmed over the coming hours and days," Hinderland said, in part.
Kamaka Air specializes in cargo flights throughout the Hawai'ian islands. The company also provides chartered luxury flights, per its website.