Owner: Makani Kai pilot didn’t take off without clearance

Company awaits results of the FAA investigation into close-call incident

A Makani Kai Air single-engine Cessna had a close call with a Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717 while both were taking off from Kahului Airport on Wednesday morning, with the owner of Makani Kai disputing initial aviation authority claims that his pilot took off without clearance.

Richard Schuman, Makani Kai owner, said Thursday afternoon that he was taking a wait-and-see stance on the cause of the incident while awaiting the results of the Federal Aviation Administration investigation.

"I'm waiting," he said. "I'm not choosing sides."

Ian Gregor, public affairs manager for the FAA Pacific Division, said Wednesday that a Cessna Caravan took off "without clearance" from the shorter Runway 5 at Kahului Airport as a Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717 was taking off from the main Runway 2. The runways intersect at their northeast ends.

"A controller in the Maui tower spotted the conflict and instructed the Cessna pilot to turn left to avoid the Hawaiian Airlines jet," Gregor said in an email. "The controller then alerted the Hawaiian Airlines pilot about the Cessna, and saw that the jet was already turning to the right, away from the smaller plane."

A passenger aboard the Hawaiian flight, which was headed for Honolulu, said that both planes were in the air and estimated the distance between the planes to be about 100 yards as the pilots turned their aircraft in opposite directions.

No one was injured in either plane, and there was no damage, officials with both airlines said.

Gregor said that the FAA is investigating the incident.

Schuman did not have the passenger count at hand but said that the flight was heading for Molokai. The Cessna Grand Caravan can carry nine passengers.

He said that local FAA officials have told him that the cause of the incident is inconclusive and that an investigation is ongoing.

Two planes were taking off at the same time, and one had permission and the other did not, Schuman said. There might have been confusion over who had clearance, he said.

"Pilots don't just sit there and say 'green light, we are going to take off,'" Schuman said. "They only take off when they are told," adding that pilots confirm the clearance with air traffic controllers before taking off.

Schuman said that he consulted with his pilot and said: "He didn't take off if he was told not to take off."

The investigation, which includes reviewing tower and cockpit recorder tapes from the Hawaiian jet (the Makani Kai plane did not have a cockpit recorder) and other information, needs to run its course, Schuman said. Claims about who is at fault at this point are speculation, he said.

"We want to tell the truth," Schuman said. "If Makani Kai's at fault, the FAA is going to say it, and I am going to support it.

"Let's tell the truth. I have nothing to hide."

A Hawaiian Airlines spokeswoman referred questions regarding the incident to the FAA.

* Lee Imada can be reached at leeimada@mauinews.com.