Hawaiʻi Health Director Cause of Death Released

Kalaupapa plane crash, photo courtesy US Coast Guard Lt. Bryan Weber.

By Wendy Osher

State Health Director Loretta Fuddy died of cardiac arrhythmia as a result of stress, according to new information released by Maui police.

Police say the manner of death was accidental.

Fuddy, 65, died on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, during a plane crash off of Kalaupapa, Molokaʻi, upon conclusion of business on the island.

The Makani Kai Air turbo-prop plane lost power about a half-mile outside of Kalaupapa with nine people aboard. All others, including the pilot, survived the crash.

The pilot of the plane that crashed heard “a loud bang,” and said the plane experienced a “total loss of power” shortly after takeoff, according to a preliminary accident report published by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The flight departed from the Kalaupapa Airport, and was en route to Honolulu International Airport when the incident occurred.