Coast

Coast Guard Release Video of Heroic Rescue

The United States Coast Guard has released a video of their emergency response crew plucking the two pilots of a crashed Boeing 737 Cargo plane. Transair Flight 810 went down in the Pacific Ocean near Ewa Beach, across the bay from Honolulu, Hawaii off the coast of Oahu on July 1st shortly before 2 AM local time with two pilots on board.

According to AmericanMilitaryNews,

“The Coast Guard deployed an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, an HC-130 Hercules airplane, a 45-foot Response-Boat-Medium, as well as Cutter Joseph Gerczak (WPC 1126). Honolulu Fire Department also deployed a rescue boat.”

One of the pilots was recovered from the water by a Dolphin Helicopter crew, the other pilot was rescued by the Honolulu Fire Department. Both pilots were taken to The Queen’s Medical Center in Oahu in stable condition.

Coast Guard Records Reveal What Went Wrong

Flight 810 was only in the air for a total of about 10 minutes before it lost all power to both engines, lost altitude and impacted the ocean’s surface, breaking up.

According to CNBC, “The plane took off from Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport bound for Kahului Airport on Maui, the U.S. Coast Guard said.”

“Our situation: We lost number 1 engine and we’re coming straight to the airport,” one of the pilots told an air traffic controller, according to audio from the airport’s tower posted on website LiveATC.net. The pilot said the plane had about two hours worth of fuel.

“We’re going to need the fire department.”

“There’s a chance we’re going to lose the other engine,” the pilot said. “It’s running very hot.”

The air traffic controller moments later said: “Low altitude alert. Low altitude alert. Are you able to climb at all?”

“No. Negative,” another pilot said. The first pilot asked the air traffic controller to “let the Coast Guard know.”

One of the surviving pilots was discovered by rescue helicopter clinging to the tail of the downed 737 which remained intact and was airlifted to the hospital, the second pilot was recovered from the seas atop some floating cargo and transported ashore by boat.

Transair’s CEO Teimour Riahi told the press in a statement that Transair is working with the FAA, NTSB and Coast Guard to “secure the scene and investigate the cause.”

“Our most immediate concern is the care and recovery of our colleagues,” Riahi said.

 

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