Fatal Plunge Near Honolulu Airport Ends in Fiery Impact
In a devastating incident that unfolded near Honolulu Airport today, a Cessna 208 passenger aircraft on a training mission crashed into a vacant building in an industrial area, claiming the lives of both occupants. The victims have been identified as passenger Preston Kaluhiwa and 22-year-old trainee pilot Hiram deFries.
Dramatic final moments captured on video and radio
Chilling footage of the accident shows the Kamaka Air aircraft rapidly losing altitude and executing a sharp left turn before its fatal impact. Even more haunting were the pilot’s final words to air traffic control, captured in audio recordings obtained by local media:
In his distress call to the air traffic control, the ATC tower said, “Kamaka Flight 689, you’re turning right, correct?”
The pilot responded, “Kamaka 689, we are, we have, we’re out of control here.”
“OK, Kamaka 689, if you can land, if you can level it off, that’s fine,” the control tower said. “Any runway, any place you can do.”
The plane crashed a few seconds later.
Moments later, the aircraft crashed.
Eyewitness account and emergency response
A witness at the scene described the terrifying moment of impact to local media: “I was working and all of a sudden had a loud, one big boom, and I looked out and there were just some freaking clouds of smoke, and my coworkers told me a plane crashed right next to our building.”
The crash triggered an immediate emergency response, with the Honolulu Fire Department, police, and city emergency management personnel rushing to the scene. The aircraft erupted in flames upon impact, sending a large plume of smoke into the sky. Fortunately, no additional casualties were reported.
Official response and investigation
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the crash. Hawaii Governor Josh Green expressed his condolences in a statement reported by Newsweek: “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.”
The governor’s office also emphasized the availability of support services, stating, “Services are available to help you process what you have witnessed; call 2-1-1, Aloha United Way, for assistance. Our Department of Transportation team will provide all necessary support to federal officials, whose job it will be to investigate this incident and determine a cause, which may not be known for some time.”