Sen. Lynn DeCoite (from left), Capt. Eric Memmott and Capt. Nate McBride pose for a photo during a ceremony on Monday to honor the two Mokulele pilots for helping to find the survivors of a plane crash in Hana in January. Photos courtesy of Mokulele

The Maui News

Two Mokulele pilots were honored for helping to locate the survivors of a plane crash in Hana in January.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the State of Hawaii recognized the two pilots during a public ceremony on Monday at Mokulele’s Terminal 3 at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, presenting them with the FAA Safety Commendation and a proclamation from the state.

“I am honored to receive this recognition, not just for myself, but for every member of the Mokulele team,” said Capt. Nate McBride. “I hope our action on that day serves as a good example for others to always help those in need.”

On Jan. 15, 2022, Capt. Eric Memmott and then-First Officer McBride were deplaning passengers at the Hana Airport when they noticed a privately owned general aviation aircraft taking off from the airport, according to a news release from Southern Airways and Mokulele. They witnessed the plane begin to climb before the pilot lost control and the plane crashed into a wooded area nearby. The Mokulele crew members immediately led the rescue effort, enlisting the help of pilots working for Skydive Hana.

While the Mokulele crew trekked through the dense forest, Skydive Hana communicated an aerial report of the crash site to the ground. Upon reaching the aircraft, the crew recognized that the sole passenger had exited while the pilot was pinned inside. After disengaging the plane’s electrical system to avoid a potential fire, the crew waited with the pilot for fire and rescue units to respond, while guiding them to the remote scene, the news release said.

Both the pilot and passenger were rushed to Maui Memorial Medical Center for treatment and survived.

“I was left very inspired by how everyone worked together to coordinate and rescue the pilots — even with the potential danger to themselves,” said Mokulele Capt. Eric Memmott. “I believe with the quick response and action of everyone involved (Honolulu Center, search and rescue, firefighters, and EMT) we can look back with relief that the outcome was positive from a potentially tragic event.”

After the rescue, the crew returned to their daily airline duties transporting passengers from Hana to Kahului in time to make their connecting flight to Hawaiian Airlines, according to the news release.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of our crew’s heroic effort,” said Stan Little, chairman and CEO of Southern Airways, Mokulele’s parent company. “So many times, events like this end badly. Thanks in no small part to our crew, these folks will live to fly another day.”

This is the second commendation for a Mokulele crew in the last year. In 2020, after a pilot instructor and student had to ditch their aircraft off the coast of Lanai, a Mokulele Airlines crew spotted the wreckage and aided in the sunset rescue.