19 September 2023

Aircraft Aiding Maui Relief

Following the tragic firestorm that consumed the historic town of Lāhainā, Maui, that killed over 110 people, on 08 August, as well as the other wildfires on the "Valley Isle", relief supply and personnel flights by several airlines and the US Armed Forces are going on to assist those displaced.

Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha Air Cargo, Kamaka Air, and Mokulele Airlines have been flying relief supplies into OGG. Hawaiian and Southwest have been offering heavily discounted fares for those who evacuated out from OGG to HNL. American Airlines substituted larger aircraft to help carry relief supplies in available cargo space from the mainland. United Airlines added a few extra flights to deliver relief supplies, as well as to help with tourist returning to the mainland. Both Canadian carriers, Air Canada and WestJet have done the same for their customers, and brought relief supplies from Canada.

Alaska Airlines has been flying in supplies from SEA, as well as providing tourist evacuation flights between OGG and HNL. Alaska's 737-9, N938AK (c/n 43381, l/n 8281, f/n 938), seen above on the ‘Ohana by Hawaiian ramp, made three flights between HNL and OGG on 14 and 15 August.

Southwest Airlines provided one of their 737-8s, N8306H (c/n 36983, l/n 4019, f/n 8306), to fly 130 shelter dogs and cats from OGG to PDX as SWA8726 on the 17th.

Cargojet Airways' C-FGSJ (c/n 26256, l/n 484, f/n 634) flew supplies from LAX to OGG on 12 August, as CJT3250. It returned to YHM with the same flight code, via HNL. Cargojet has been flying in relief supplies from SEA [C-FCAE (c/n 24083, l/n 215, l/n 643) as CJT3251 on 12 Aug], seen above, and IAD [C-GCIJ (c/n 26263, l/n 592, l/n 638) as CJT3523 on 15 Aug]. Both C-FCCJ (c/n 25197, l/n 425, l/n 640) from BWI as CJT3256 and C-FMIJ (c/n 27135, l/n 493, f/n 636) from IND as CJT3258 arrived on the 18th. Cargojet continues with frequent relief supply flights into OGG from various locations.

Lynden Air Cargo has two of their L-100s, N409LC (msn 4695) [top] operating between HNL and OGG from the 13th, as LYC595/596; and N405LC (msn 382-5025) [above] from the 14th, operating as LYC593/594. N409LC departed for OAK on the 16th, while N405LC departed for PHX on the 18th.

Samaritan Purse's DC-8-72CF, N782SP (c/n 46013, l/n 427), made a relief supply and volunteer flight from GSO on the 15th, and flew to FAT the next day. Their new 757-225F, N783SP (c/n 22611, l/n 75), made a flight into OGG from GSO (via FAT) as NSP7 on 02 September, to bring in more relief supplies, and returned to GSO the next day.

Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood chartered a HiFly Malta A340-313, 9H-SOL (msn 483), that flew from IND to OGG as HFM426 on the 18th to bring in relief supplies. Fleetwood owns the Fleetwood on Front Street restaurant which was lost in the fire.

The Sands Aviation 747SP-31, VP-BLK (c/n 21961, l/n 415), made a relief supplies flight out of LAS on 19 Sep to OGG on behalf of CityServe. Fox News' Will Cain posted an Instagram Reel featuring the article he did.

According to former Hawai‘i Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard's Instagram post, Paradise Helicopters' C208B Grand Caravan, N599MB was used to fly relief supplies between OGG and JHM.

Pacific Air Charters has been using their Pago Wings P2012, N1202P, for relief flights between HNL and JHM.


On the military side, C-17As from the 204th AS, and KC-135Rs from the 203rd ARS, of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard have flown into OGG with Army Guard soldiers, other first responders, and equipment.

UH-60Ms and CH-47Es from the Hawai‘i Army National Guard have been assisting in fighting the fires once the winds subsided, as well as helicopter assets from the Army’s 25th CAB.

US Marine Corps’ KC-130Js from the VMGR-153, and MV-22As from the VMM-268 and VMM-363, all based at Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i, have been assisting with flying in personnel and relief supplies.

US Navy’s MH-60Rs from the HSL-37 assisted the USCG with search and rescue efforts.

US Coast Guard C-130Js from the 14th District, based at the Kalaeloa Airport, have been assisting in search and rescue patrols since the 8th.


Private pilots and general aviators have been using their own aircraft, bringing in supplies to both OGG and JHM, as well.


Please keep the people of Maui in your thoughts and prayers, and if you can help out, please contribute to the relief agencies helping the good folks on Maui.


This post will be continuously updated as information arrives.

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