In Lang’s defense, the first rescue crew arrived at about 4:30, according to the MCFD - about the time that Lang says a navy helicopter arrived. If the plane sunk at about 4:15 his claims could fit with the MCFD report. Did Lang say when the plane sank?
So when was the navy helicopter at the airport doing what Mark Miller called “touch and goes”??
A search and rescue operation was initiated on Dec. 11 after a Makani Kai Air plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Kalaupapa at around 3:35 p.m
Maui police say the plane lost power and the pilot landed the plane in the water about a half mile outside Kalaupapa.
The Coast Guard and the Maui Fire Department lifted eight people out of the water.
One of the passengers swam to shore
One of the passengers, State Director of Health, Loretta Fuddy, died.
Where can I see what Mark Miller said about Navy Helicopters?
Here’s the only article I can find right now that mentions what he had to say:
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/24210882/kalaupapa-residents-say-health-dir
quote:
“I met her here,” says Killilea, as he stands at the white picket fence surrounding the runway.
He and settlement Administrator Mark Miller met the State Department of Health Director at the airport Wednesday morning.
Fuddy was on official business. Her title automatically makes her the honorary Mayor of the town. And while the visit was work-related, she also had time to do a little sightseeing with her Deputy Director, Keith Yamamoto.
“I took her by the beach,” says Miller, who says two whales were spouting and spinner dolphins were putting on a show for the group. They also visited the grave site of Father Damien and met with Hansen’s Disease patients who still live in the town of about 100. At a town hall meeting, Fuddy listened to the concerns of the residents.
Then she and Yamamoto caught the last flight out of Kalaupapa, about three-thirty in the afternoon.
The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff, a loud bang was heard and there was a total loss of power. After a short glide, he performed an open ocean ditching. The airplane floated for approximately 25 minutes and then sank. All the passengers put on their life preservers and exited the airplane. US Coast Guard and Maui Fire and Rescue personnel recovered the passengers approximately 80 minutes later.
Do you have a link to the Maui FD incident report?
The yellow Magnum PI copter in Fred's post is the Maui FD.
Fire rescue workers climb into a helicopter at Kilohana to take a closer look at the crash site.