A small Cessna 208 cargo plane, operating a training flight, crashed into an unoccupied building near Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport shortly after takeoff, resulting in the tragic loss of both pilots. The incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
Video footage captures the aircraft veering sideways at a low altitude before colliding with the building, generating a dense plume of black smoke. Audio recordings reveal the pilot's desperate communication with the control tower, reporting a loss of control just moments before the crash. The tower attempted to guide the plane to any available landing spot, but the crash occurred shortly after.
Kamaka Air, the company operating the flight, confirmed the devastating loss of two of their team members. While official identification is pending, family members have reportedly identified the victims as Hiram Defries, a pilot in training and Punahou School graduate, and Preston Kaluhiwa, a Kamehameha Schools graduate.
The aircraft was en route to Lanai Airport in Maui County. Kamaka Air primarily provides freight services for individuals and businesses. Fortunately, no one on the ground was injured in the incident. A thorough investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is underway.
