HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Two people were killed when a plane crashed into a building near Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Tuesday afternoon.
It happened around 3:05 p.m. on Aolele Street.
State officials said a Kamaka Air Cessna 208 Caravan was conducting a training flight when it crashed into the top of a vacant, state-owned building that was slated for demolition, before impacting the ground.
Both souls on board died.
While they have not been identified by officials, sources close to the family identified one of the victims as Hiram Defries, a Punahou School graduate in his 20s who was a pilot in training.
Multiple first responder agencies, including the Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu Police Department, responded to the incident.
A witness who works in the area tells Hawaii News Now he heard a loud crash and saw a plane on fire.
“I was working and all of a sudden had a loud, one big boom, and I looked out and there was just some freaking clouds of smoke and my coworkers told me a plane crashed right next to our building,” he said.
Nancy Timko works just down the street.
“I was sitting at my desk and all of a sudden, I saw a small plane fly past my office window, which is on the seventh floor. And I went, ‘Oh, he’s really, really low,’ and he started banking and going back towards the airport, and then I heard a loud bang,” she said.
Fire officials said the plane hit the exterior stairwell area, and flames were confined to the exterior portion of the building.
“It’s a tragic loss. Our condolences go out to the Kamaka Air ohana,” said HFD Chief Kalani Hao. “We did an interior search to clear the building. Fortunately, the building was an abandoned building it was a best case scenario no one else was involved.”
According to audio transmissions from Kamaka Air 689, the pilot told the control tower, “We’re out of control here.”
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.
The state DOT said the pilot made adjustments to minimize impacts from the crash.
Witnesses who were driving in the area at the time captured the crash on dash cam video.
Warning: Viewers may find the video below disturbing.
“From what we understand from people who saw the crash. They avoided quite a bit of structures including our fuel farm to minimize the impacts that were had,” said HDOT Director Ed Sniffen.
Both Hawaii’s governor and Honolulu’s mayor issued statements offering 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,” Gov. Josh Green said. “Services are available to help you process what you have witnessed; call 2-1-1, Aloha United Way, for assistance.”
“This heartbreaking incident reminds us of the dedication and risks taken by those who help keep Hawaii’s essential goods moving. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted by this tragedy during this incredibly difficult time,” Mayor Rick Blangiardi said.
Honolulu EMS Chief Jim Ireland said it was clear both men died at the scene.
“At EMS we always hope that there is somebody to help and tragically, today that wasn’t the case,” he said.
MORE: Who is Kamaka Air? Here’s what we know
Based in Hawaii and founded in 1993, Kamaka Air operates as an inter-island airline and logistics company that provides air cargo services such as charter service and per-pound service.
David Hinderland, Kamaka Air CEO, issued the following statement:
“It is with heavy hearts that Kamaka Air confirms the loss of two members of the Kamaka Air family in an accident at 3:13 this afternoon near the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. We are not releasing the names of the pilots until family members have had a chance to process this tragedy, and we hope the media will give them the same consideration.
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.
At this time, we ask for your patience, as you know the urgency of getting correct information that not only offers a clear understanding of what happened, but to assure that the information is handled appropriately.”
All airport facilities remained operational, but Ualena and Aolele streets were closed for several hours.
The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into the crash. According to the NTSB, the flight crew reported control anomalies shortly after takeoff.
Three NTSB investigators are traveling to the accident site and will document the site and airplane wreckage. The wreckage will then be moved to a secure facility for further evaluation.
The Honolulu Fire Department, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, NTSB and the Sheriff Division are all working on the case.
Witnesses to the accident or those who have surveillance video or other information that could be relevant to the investigation are asked to contact the NTSB at [email protected].
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