Video: Pilot ditches plane NE of Maui

World Today

Video: Pilot ditches plane of MauiCOURTESY: U.S. Coast Guard

HONOLULU (AP) — Authorities say two small planes ran out of fuel and went into the Pacific off Hawaii, but all five aboard the aircraft survived.

The U.S. Coast Guard says the separate incidents Sunday involved a plane carrying a solo pilot 250 miles (400 kilometers) off Hawaii, and another with four people aboard just a few miles off shore.

The pilot of a single engine Cirrus SR-22 traveling from Tracy, California, to Maui radioed authorities that of plans to ditch because of dwindling fuel and the Coast Guard directed the pilot to put down near a cruise ship 253 miles northeast of Maui.   According to the Coast Guard, “Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu identified the cruise ship Veendam, en route to Lahaina, Maui, and coordinated the pilot’s ditch near their location.”

Video shows the pilot deploying the airplane’s parachute system and the plane splash landing in the ocean. The ship then plucked the pilot to safety unhurt.

Video: Pilot ditches plane of Maui

COURTESY: U.S. Coast Guard

 

Later Sunday, the single-engine plane with four aboard ditched 11 miles (17 kilometers) off shore. A Coast Guard helicopter hoisted the three adults and one child to safety. Officials say all four were treated for undisclosed injuries.  The plane was flying from Kauai to Oahu.


The Coast Guard has rescued all four passengers aboard a second single engine aircraft that ran out of fuel and ditched approximately 11 miles west of Oahu, Sunday. A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew located and hoisted all four passengers. They were flown to Coast Guard Air Station Barbers point where they were transferred to emergency medical services. U.S. Coast Guard video

Story compiled with information from The Associated Press.