1 Dead, 8 Rescued in Kalaupapa Plane Crash

Makani Kai Air, Cessna Grand Caravan, photo courtesy Makani Kai Air.

By Wendy Osher

(Update: 5 a.m. 12/12/13; 5:58 p.m.; 5:31 p.m. 12/11/13)

All nine individuals are now accounted for, with one individual suffering fatal injuries in a plane crash off of Kalaupapa, Molokaʻi on Wednesday afternoon.

The person killed in the crash was later identified as State Health Director Loretta Fuddy.

The Makani Kai Air Cessna Grand Caravan plane departed from Kalaupapa bound for Oʻahu at around 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11, carrying a total of nine individuals including a pilot and eight passengers, according to company owner Richard Schuman.

Initial reports indicate that response crews spotted the tail end of plane sticking out of the water about a half mile from shore at Kalaupapa.

Coast Guard crews and rescue personnel from the Maui Fire Department’s Air-1 helicopter assisted in the rescue effort.

Once patients were ready for release from a triage area in Kalaupapa, they were to be transported to area hospitals for treatment. Three individuals were flown to Honolulu, two refused transport and stayed in Kalaupapa, and the remaining patients were transported to area hospitals in Maui County.

***Check back for further details which will be posted as they become available.

Kalaupapa, Molokaʻi map. The marker is a generalized area of where the incident occurred, and not an exact location.  Map courtesy USGS Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Observatory.

(Posted 4 p.m. 12/11/13)

Rescue crews are responding to reports of a downed plane about a half-mile from shore at Kalaupapa, Molokaʻi.

An initial report indicated that there could be as many as eight individuals in the water with life vests, but responding crews have reported that a few have since made it to shore.

In addition to fire rescue crews, the department’s Air-1 helicopter is en-route, and personnel are also responding from the US Coast Guard.

Initial reports also indicate that response crews spotted the tail end of plane sticking out of the water about a half mile from shore at Kalaupapa.

***Check back for further details which will be posted as they become available.