N187PF Hard Landing At LNY

The Maui 24/7 Facebook page reports that N187PF (msn 444A), a Sling LSA owned by Pacific Flight Academy, had a hard landing at LNY, at 16:15HAST this afternoon. It was on a flight from HNL as KA87. According to the OpenADSB playback, the LSA had flown the approach for Runway 3, then did a quick go-around for Runway 21, landed hard and ended up leaning on its nose in the infield grass. Fortunately, the pilot did not suffer any injuries.

Further information in this Aviation Safety Network report.

Pacific Flight Academy's N83PF Ditching

N83PF (msn 412A), a Sling LSA owned by Pacific Flight Academy, ditched two miles from LUP. This LSA was on a flight on a round-trip training flight out of HNL, and was on final approach for LUP's Runway 5. It went down at 11:43HAST, and both occupants extricated themselves, and swam to the Kalaupapa National Park.

Further information in this KITV Island News report.

Mokuele Airlines' N839MA Hard Landing At MKK

Mokulele Airlines' N839MA (msn 208B2392) suffered a flat tire on a hard landing at MKK this afternoon. Flying as FDY39, this C208B Grand Caravan landed hard on MKKʻs Runway 5. Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner and Hawaiian music singer Raiatea Helm was aboard the flight, and posted the result on her Instagram post.

After a tire change and inspection, N839MA continued onto OGG this evening.

Helicopter Accident At Kalalau Beach

KHON2 reports that a helicopter with five aboard made a crash landing at Kalalau Beach on Kaua‘i's Nāpali coast after 15:30HAST today. It's being reported to be an air tour helicopter belonging to Airborne Aviation. Flight tracks from FlightRadar24 and FlightAware, shows the last helicopter to be in the area as N715KA (msn 490487D), a Hughes 359D, commonly known as a Hughes 500. There were five people aboard the helicopter. N715KA is owned by AA Leasing LP [Kīlauea, Kaua‘i, HI], and leased to Airborne Aviation.

26 March 2026 - 22:00 UPDATE

Kaua‘i County officials report there were three fatalities, and two injuries.

27 March 2026 UPDATE

The FAA confirmed that it was N715KV that crashed, and the accident is under investigation by the FAA and the NTSB.

Omni Air International's N207AX Ground Collision

Omni Air International's N207AX "Kiani" (c/n 30438, l/n 845, f/n 207) was involved in collision with ground equipment. This 767-224ER's port side leading edge, near the wingtip, was struck by a stair truck from Signature Flight Support yesterday. N207AX was flying a charter for the State of Hawai‘i as OAE3709 from IWA, via ITO.

Sister-ship N225AX (c/n 30434, l/n 833, f/n 225) arrived from AFW last night as OAE3762 as a fleet substitution to complete the OAE3709 charter flight to IWA.

25 November 2025 UPDATE 

Following inspections and repairs, N207AX departed for AFW as OAE3106.

UPS Airlines' N259UP Crash

N259UP (c/n 48417, l/n 467, f/n 259), a UPS Airlines MD-11F, crashed after takeoff at SDF. It was departing for HNL as UPS2976, with a crew of three, who perished. This MD-11F was loaded with cargo and 38,000 gallons of jet fuel for the eight and half hour flight. UPS2976 was scheduled to depart at 15:00EST, departed at 15:41EST, and was scheduled to arrive at HNL around 19:00HAST. There are reports of casualties on the ground as well. The FAA and the NTSB will take the lead on the investigation of this accident.

An eyewitness video on AirNavRadar's Facebook page shows the number one engine on fire during its takeoff roll.

Further information in this Fox News developing story.

48417's History:

Jly 1991: Delivered to Thai Airways as HS-TME "Pathun Wan".

Feb 2006: Withdrawn from service, and stored at BKK.

Jun 2006: Acquired by UPS Airlines as N259UP, and converted to a freighter.

The above photo is the only one we have in our library, taken in May 2008, as it was being towed to the UPS ramp for loading.

The HNL RareBirds™ team extends our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the families of the lost.

Rainbow Helicopters' N488JB Emergency Landing

A Rainbow Helicopters Robinson R44 II, N488JB (msn 13379), made an emergency landing at Kapi‘olani Park during a tour flight this morning, after an undisclosed issue.

Further information in this Hawaii News Now article.

All Nippon Airways' JA381A Collision With Container

All Nippon Airways' A380-841, JA381A "Lani" (msn 262), collided with a runaway cargo container as it taxied for departure to NRT this afternoon as ANA181. Eye witness reports say that the cargo container and trailer belonged to Federal Express, and the damage to the A380 was on the starboard wing. Since none of the 498 aboard suffered any injuries, the NTSB will not get involved.

JA381A continued to taxi on Taxiway A to cross Runway 8L to Taxiway B to return to Gate C9. The A380 was towed to the ‘Ewa Ramp this afternoon for evaluation and repairs.

This post will be updated as more information and reports become available.

16 September 2025 UPDATE

Another eyewitness report stated that the number 4 engine made contact with the rogue container. In the above photo, it appears that the number 4 engine appears to be angled up a bit.

No reports have been listed on the FAA Safety website, nor the Aviation Safety Network nor the Aviation Herald.

17 September 2025 UPDATE

An article regarding the incident appeared on the AviationWire.jp website. It states that the container that struck the A380 was an ANA container, but based upon the photos I have seen following the incident, it was a FedEx container that got loose.

20 September 2025 UPDATE

The Aviation Safety Network has an incident report on their website.

29 September 2025 UPDATE

Following repair completion, JA381A returned to NRT as ANA9401 today.

01 October 2025 UPDATE 

JA381A returned to service today as ANA182.

Two Hawaiian Airlines Airliners In Ground Collision

According to eyewitness reports, a Hawaiian Airlines A330-243, N390HA "Namahoe" (msn 1389) was under tow when its port side winglet clipped the a corner of the starboard elevator of 717-22A, N480HA "Pueo" (c/n 55125, l/n 5070) this afternoon.

N480HA had just emerged from a C-check, and was parked near the hangar. N390HA was also involved in an uncontrolled collision with a jet bridge several days ago, when the chocks were removed while the parking brakes were off.

US Navy's 169561 Scrapped At MCAS Kāneʻohe Bay

169561 (c/n 66094, l/n 8026), the US Navy P-8A Poseidon that had the runway excursion at NGF in November 2023, was scrapped this week on the NGF ramp. The damage to the P-8A was deemed to be irreparable, and too costly, with equipment and airframe exposed to the bay's saltwater.

A time-lapse video is on the Fl360Aero Instagram page.

N3261S Crash Landing

N3261S (msn 18255761), a Cessna C182G Skylane, owned by Big Island Gravity LLC, made a hard landing on the roadway at Kekaha Kai State Park, north of KOA this morning. The pilot reported engine power loss and made the emergency landing on the park's road, and was able to walk away. The park, however, was closed until the C182G could be removed.

Instagram account, Big Island Thieves Media posted this photo of the crash site.

Further information in this Aviation Safety Network report.

Trans Air Hawaii's N221LM Belly Landing

TransAir Hawaii's Short Brothers SD3-60F (200), N221LM (msn SH3722), landed gear-up on Runway 4R this morning. Operating as MUI6 from KOA, it belly landed at 08:52. HNL's ARFF trucks responded, there were no injuries reported.

The ReverseOps YouTube channel caught the final approach on their live stream this morning, at 02:12:21 on the timeline.

This was N221LM from a photo taken this past April, taxiing to the TransAir Hawaii operations ramp.

N261FC Hard Landing In Kunia

N261FC (msn 28-24697), a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee 140 owned by Ai Vu, had a hard landing in a field in Kunia, north of the Royal Kunia subdivision. Thankfully, both pilots on board survived, with one transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Condolences To The Accident at DCA

The HNL RareBirds™ team expresses our condolences, thoughts, and prayers to the 67 lives lost in the mid-air collision between the US Army UH-60 Blackhawk flying as PAT25, and the American Eagle (PSA Airlines) CRJ-700 flying as AAL5342, last night over the Potomac River outside DCA. We are sorry for your loss.

Winds Cause Two Bizjets To Collide At OGG

Hawaii News Now reports that recent high winds caused a Dassault Falcon 8X to collide with a Bombardier Global 7500 on the OGG FBO ramp, across from the main terminal. 

HDOT-A announced that there were no commercial service affected by this collision.

After scouring OpenADSB, we were unable to find the two aircraft involved. If anyone knows, please email us the info.

Dead Stowaway Found At OGG

A deceased stowaway was found in one of the main landing gear wells of a United Airlines 787-10 at OGG, after it arrived from ORD as UAL202 this afternoon. N12010 (c/n 40926, l/n 948, f/n 1010) made the flight today, when ground crews discovered the body.

Further details in this KHON2 News report.

Kamaka Air's N689KA Crashes

Kamaka Air's C208BF Grand Caravan, N689KA (msn 208B2308), crashed outside HNL shortly after taking off from Runway 4L on a training flight to LNY as KMK689. The C208BF reported engine and control issues, and the pilots did their best to avoid the HNL fuel farm, the Skyline guideway, and other buildings before crashing into the former SkyChefs building (now owned by HDOT). Both pilots aboard lost their lives in the accident. A fire ensued following the crash, and was put out by HNL ARFF and HFD crews. The FAA and NTSB will be investigating this accident.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the two pilots, and the Kamaka Air ‘ohana.

Further details in this Honolulu Star-Advertiser article.

Juan Browne's Blancolirio YouTube channel has a video about the accident.

N144KW Crashes Off The Nā Pali Coast

N144KW (msn 12805), a Robinson R44, owned by Aloha Helicopter Tours LLC [Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi, HI] (operating as Aliʻi Air Tours & Charters) crashed off of Kauaʻi's Nā Pali Coast, abeam the Hanakoa Valley. The helicopter was last tracked at 13:20HAST, and the crash was called in by hikers at Hanakoa Valley. 

Hawaii News Now reports that one person was killed, and two remain missing. The US Coast Guard dispatched an HC-130J and an HH-65A, and the US Army sent a UH-60 to assist in search and rescue efforts. Other civilian helicopters have assisted as well.

Our condolences and prayers go out to those lost in the accident.

Hawaiian Airlines' N227HA Runway Excursion

Hawaiian Airlines' N227HA "Olopua" (msn 9223, f/n 227) had a runway excursion after landing on OGG's Runway 2 this afternoon. This A321-271N, flying as HAL29 from SEA, was able stop in the runway safety area. Reports say that there was an issue with the brakes. None of the 173 passengers and six crew were injured, and the A321N did not sustain any damage.

Further information in this Hawaii News Now report.

Kalitta Air's N740CK In-flight Emergency

The Aviation Herald reports that Kalitta Air's N740CK "Doug Kalitta Sr. 1" (c/n 24405 l/n 745) had an in-flight fire in the aft cabin, as it flew from LAX to HNL as CKS368 on 24 May. The fire was extinguished, and the flight continued onto HNL. N740CK was able to re-enter service several hours later.