Hiram Defries-Saronitman and Preston Kaluhiwa die in a small plane crash in Honolulu, Hawaii
Fatal Honolulu plane crash claims the lives of Hiram Defries-Saronitman and Preston Kaluhiwa – Obituary.
A tragic plane crash near Honolulu’s airport on Tuesday claimed the lives of two Kamaka Air pilots, identified as 24-year-old Hiram Defries-Saronitman and 26-year-old Preston Kaluhiwa. The accident occurred shortly after their cargo plane took off for a training flight.
Defries-Saronitman, a Punahou School graduate, was undergoing pilot training. Kaluhiwa, a Kamehameha Schools alumnus and former kayaking team member, had recently completed advanced pilot training for multi-engine planes in Ohio.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Cessna 208 aircraft encountered trouble moments after taking off from Runway 4L. The crew reported the issue to air traffic control, who instructed them to land wherever possible. However, the plane veered sideways at low altitude and crashed into an unoccupied building in an industrial area, producing a thick plume of smoke.
The single-engine aircraft, operated by Kamaka Air for inter-island cargo services, was headed to Lanai Airport at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported.
The NTSB has deployed investigators to determine the cause of the incident. Kamaka Air, established in 1993, specializes in air cargo services across Hawaii.
