A runway at Kahului Airport on Maui was closed this afternoon for a short time following what appeared to be a mishap with a Hawaiian Airlines flight. Arriving from Seattle, the aircraft had problems with its brakes upon landing, causing a short delay at the airport.
An aircraft operated by Hawaiian Airlines Flight HA29 developed problems with its braking system while landing at Kahului Airport, having 173 passengers and six crew members onboard. The pilots, despite the malfunction of the plane’s brakes, managed to bring the plane to a complete stop onto the runway surface, averting potential danger.
As a precautionary measure, the affected plane was towed to the gate, where all 173 passengers had been moved out safely. Hawaiian Airlines did confirm no injuries had been reported.
The state Department of Transportation took temporary measures to control the incoming flights. One diverted mainland flight landed safely at Oahu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, and interisland flights were diverted into holding patterns and then rerouted to Kahului Airport’s runway 5/23.
The carrier issued a statement regarding the incident: “We sincerely apologize to our guests and appreciate our crew for their professionalism. Further, this particular aircraft was removed from service for a proper evaluation.”.
Also Read – Hawaiian and Southwest’s Troubles Skyrocketing Airfares
This incident goes a long way to prove how very vital safety protocols and quick thinking has started being an integral part of the aviation industry. The incident was a little disruptive to the airport operations, but quick action by both the flight crew and the airport ensured that all passengers were safe and everyone else received minimum disruptions in their air travels to and from Maui.
As investigations go on to find the faulty designs in the malfunctioning brake, passengers are advised to continue monitoring announcements from respective flight companies in case of any delays or changes in the next few days.