4 Survive Emergency Landing in Halawa

One passenger received treatment for minor injuries at the rescue helicopter landing zone. Photo by Colleen Uechi.

A privately-owned single-engine Cessna 172 carrying a pilot and three passengers made a forced landing near Cape Halawa last Friday afternoon, according to the Maui Fire Department. Ian Gregor, Public Affairs Manager for the Federal Aviation Association, said the plane “reportedly lost engine power.”

The aircraft was reported to have landed in the trees at an elevation of about 3,000 feet. Maui Fire Department personnel airlifted passengers as well as pilot and plane owner Michael Richards from the crash site to a landing zone at Pu`u O Hoku Ranch.

One unidentified female passenger was taken by Medevac to Maui Memorial Hospital in serious condition. Richards and two passengers, one male and one female, were transported to Molokai General Hospital for treatment for minor injuries.

“I’m fine. I don’t need a ride,” Richards told first responders at the landing zone.

The names of the passengers had not been released as of Sunday.

Fire Captain Kekoa Puhi said the emergency call came in at around 3 p.m. All of the victims had been taken to the hospital before 5 p.m.