FAA Investigation: Cessna Takes Off without Clearance, Avoids Hawaiian Airlines Jet

Kahului Airport. File photo by Wendy Osher.

A Hawaiian Airlines jet had to maneuver to avoid a potential collision with a Cessna aircraft that took off from the Kahului Airport without clearance on Wednesday morning, federal officials tell Maui Now.

A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said the Cessna Caravan took off without clearance from Runway 5 as a Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717 was taking off from Runway 2. The runways intersect each other at their Northeastern ends.

Ian Gregor, public affairs manager with the FAA Pacific Division said a controller in the Maui tower spotted the conflict and instructed the Cessna pilot to turn left to avoid the Hawaiian Airlines jet. The controller then alerted the Hawaiian Airlines pilot about the Cessna, and saw that the jet was already turning to the right, away from the smaller plane.

The incident remains under investigation.