Pilots rescued after cargo plane crashes in ocean off Hawaii

HONOLULU >> Two pilots survived when a cargo plane they were flying crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii on Friday.

The pilots of Transair Flight 810 reported engine trouble and were trying to return to Honolulu when they were forced to land the Boeing 737 in the water, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

Coast Guard Lt. Commander Karin Evelyn said in an email that the agency received a report about 1:40 a.m. of a downed interisland transport plane. About an hour later, rescuers in a Coast Guard helicopter spotted the debris field and two people in the water, Evelyn said.

Air traffic control communications captured the moments before the crash.

“We’ve lost No. 1 engine and we’re coming straight to the airport,” one of the pilots said. “We’re going to need the fire department. There’s a chance we’re going to lose the other engine too; it’s running very hot. We’re very low on speed. It doesn’t look good out here.”

The pilot said they weren’t carrying hazardous materials and had two hours’ worth of fuel.

The pilots were not in a life raft when they were rescued.

One person was hoisted into the helicopter and taken to Queen’s Medical Center, Evelyn said. The Honolulu Fire Department rescued the other person, she said. Their identities were not immediately released.

Queen’s officials said a 58-yearold was in the intensive care unit in critical condition, according to Hawaii News Now. A boat brought the other 50-year-old to shore before being transported to the hospital in serious condition with a head injury and multiple lacerations, Hawaii News Now reported.