HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The FAA is investigating a Southwest aircraft bound for Lihue suddenly dove 4,000 feet in a minute just 400 feet above the ocean.

Bloomberg News reported the incident first and said the plane came within 400 feet of falling into the ocean.

On April 11, the aircraft headed for Lihue ended up flying back to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

Retired Pilot Patrick McNamee analyzed the flight map on Flight Aware and said weather conditions made it difficult for the plane to land safely on Kauai.

“So, they could only descend to 400 feet off the water in order to take a look to see if they can get in. In this case, they descended 400 feet, they could not find, or they couldn’t see through the clouds to land,” said McNamee. “So, they went around, and I think that scared the passengers.”

A Southwest memo to pilots said a less-experienced first officer inadvertently pushed the control column forward, then cut the speed, causing cockpit alarms to go off before the captain ordered an aggressive climb.

“I don’t believe that anything was unsafe in this. It might have been a little aggressive, but when you do go around in an airplane, you use full throttle, and it’s like taking off again,” said McNamee. “So here you are coming, coming in for a landing, descending, and when you can’t see the runway, you have to go around; when you have that power, it’s a very, very aggressive feeling.”

“It pushes you back in your seat, the nose goes up, and it climbs away from the ground,” McNamee said. He can see how that could have contributed to the scare factor.

However, there have been other incidents that have made people hesitant to fly.

In 2022, eleven people were seriously injured on a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu following severe turbulence.

“After hearing about that one, I’ve been more conscious of making sure I have my seatbelt even when I’m just sleeping on the plane,” said Brenna Cregge of Mililani.

In a separate flight, a United Airlines flight made a steep dive after taking off from Maui’s airport.

Southwest released the following statement.

Nothing is more important to Southwest than Safety. Through our robust Safety Management System, the event was addressed appropriately, as we always strive for continuous improvement.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Indian authorities are probing a loss of separation incident that occurred on 8 June in Mumbai. Air India flight 657 was cleared to depart Mumbai’s Runway 27 while IndiGo flight 5053 was cleared to land at the same time. According to ADS-B data received from both aircraft, at their closest point the flights were 1,671 apart.

Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. Content is subject to editing for parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Any questions regarding obituaries should be directed to the mortuary or to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements with photos may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.

Maryjane
(Paulino) Kalani

Maryjane (Paulino) Kalani, 82, of Hilo died May 28 at Legacy Hilo Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Born in Hilo, she was a homemaker and member of New Hope – Hilo. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Friday, June 21, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Alae Cemetery. Casual attire; flowers welcome. Survived by children, Laura Pascubillo of Oahu, Marilyn (David) Nascimento of Pahoa, Barbara Fernandez of Modesto, Calif., and James (Frances) Barley of Hilo; sisters, Marilyn (Johnson) Kalawe of Pahoa and Frances Moreno of Hilo; stepsisters, Loraine Reddick of Hilo, Gladys Meyers of Pahoa and Madeline Silva of Keaau; 13 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

William Ku‘ulei Townsend

William Ku‘ulei Townsend, 87, of Hilo died April 6 at home. Born in Honolulu, he was a steel and construction contractor, who started his career at Pacific Welding and Machine Works, a family business, and managed various projects renovating and repurposing buildings in Hawaii and California. In retirement, he enjoyed gardening and woodworking. Celebration of life 11 a.m. Saturday, June 22, at Onekahakaha Beach Park, Pavilions No. 2 and 3. Scattering of ashes 1 p.m. Sunday, June 23, at Keauhou Harbor in Kona. Survived by sons, George Puni (Barbara) Townsend, Timothy (Leonora) Walsh and Michael (Sue Swanson) Walsh; daughter, Sharon (Robert) Alapai; brother-in-law, Agenhart Ellis; sisters, Ululani (Hagi) Young, Marion (Billy) Makaimoku, Charlotte (Ted Lazaga) Townsend and Marcy (Richard) Marchan; 16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Stanley Sumio Kaku

Stanley Sumio Kaku, 77, of Kealakekua died April 14 at Hospice of Kona’s Nakamaru Hale in Holualoa. Born in Kealakekua, he was a retired PBX switcher for the former Hawaiian Telephone Co. and U.S. Army veteran. Private services. No flowers or koden. Survived by wife, Julie Ann Kaku of Kealakekua; sisters, Jean Murata and Lenora (Bill) Kelley of Honolulu, Lilly Ushiroda of Kealakekua; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Josephine Ann Cox

Josephine Ann Cox, 77, of Hilo died May 30 at her daughter’s home in Pahoa. Born in Hilo, she was a retired cashier at Kilauea Military Camp in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Private services. Survived by companion, Delbert Cox of Hilo; son, Danny Cox of Hilo; daughter, Jessie (Ted) Flynn of Pahoa; brother, Felix (Fay) Dagoro of Keaau; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Sharyn Kaye Bemiller

Sharyn Kaye Bemiller, 72, of Naalehu died May 31 at home. Born in Salem, Ohio, she was a retired manager and hairdresser, former country music singer, artist and crafter. Celebration of her life at a later date in Ohio. Survived by husband, Russell Bemiller Jr. of Naalehu; daughters, Angela (Stan) Dodson of Oklahoma and Amanda (Kristopher) Lamb of Ohio; sister,
Kathy Bookman of Ohio; two grandsons. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Alison Taeko Yamaguchi

Alison Taeko Yamaguchi, 73, of Hilo, died May 4 at home. Born in Honolulu, she was a retired bed control coordinator for The Queen’s Medical Center and retired admitting supervisor for the former Hilo Medical Center. Private services held. Survived by sister, Kerry Yamaguchi of Hilo; an aunt, cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Midori Hasegawa

Midori Hasegawa, age 102, of Hilo, Hawaii, passed away on March 31, 2024 in Hilo. She was born in Hilo, Hawaii on January 9, 1922 and was a part-owner of Hawaii Junk Ltd. and member of Hilo Nichiren Mission. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by son, Raymond (Geraldine) Hasegawa of Hilo; sister-in-law, Amy Aoyagi of Hilo; three granddaughters. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Susan Mary Kaneta

Susan Mary Kaneta, 80, of Kailua-Kona died May 30. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y, she was a retired English teacher for Konawaena High School and member of the ACBL National Bridge Club. Private family service at a later date. Preceded in death by husband, Milton H. Kaneta. Survived by nephew, Kevin (Tricia) McCambridge, of Rockaway, N.J.; niece, Amy (Mark) Stepp of Ridgewood, N.J.; stepdaughter, Laureen Ann Kaneta of Kihei, Maui; stepson, Milton H. “Buzzy” Kaneta Jr. of Phoenix. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Corinne C. Matsumoto

Corinne C. Matsumoto, 86, of Kailua-Kona died Feb. 9. Born in Minneapolis, she was a medical techician for the former Puna Sugar Co. and the “Tupperware Lady” on the Big Island. Private services. Preceded in death by husband, Eisho Matsumoto, and son, Alan Dwayne Matsumoto. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Stephany Ann
Lambert Wilson

Stephany Ann Lambert Wilson, 82, of Hilo died May 4 at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. She was born in Oregon. No known family. Survivors are asked to call Dodo Mortuary at (808) 935-5751. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Victor Dean Young

Victor Dean Young, 66, of Discovery Harbour died May 26 in Hilo. Born in Embudo, N.M., he was a commercial locksmith. Services in New Mexico. Survived by his wife, Sandra Young of Discovery Harbour; mother, Carmen Young of New Mexico; brothers, Vernon Young of Florida and Vaughn Young of New Mexico; four nephews and three cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Thomas “Rainbow Rastasan” Kilgore Page

Thomas “Rainbow Rastasan” Kilgore Page, 72, of Volcano died March 23 at home. Born in Monrovia, Calif., he was a vocalist, musician and songwriter whose song “Living in a Fantasy” he co-wrote and performed was a local hit and featured on the early 1990s television show “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Celebration of life noon-6 p.m. Sunday July 7, at Aunty Sally Kaleohano’s Lu‘au Hale in Hilo. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by caretaker, Elizabeth Kahoilua of Keaau; son, Mackie Lichtl of Mountain View; hanai son, Eric “Jon” Lichtl of Volcano; stepbrother, Charles (Lois) Mingus III of New York City; a grandson; two nephews, nieces. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.

Stephen Wynn Bartholomew

Stephen Wynn Bartholomew, 76, of Keaau died June 9 at home. Born in Oakland, Calif., he was a retired civil engineer for Goodfellow Bros. No services. Survived by wife, Gillynda Bartholomew of Keaau; son, Joshua Bartholomew of Sacramento, Calif.; brothers, Anthony (Naomi) Bartholomew of Keaau, Nathan (Kathy) Bartholomew of Portland, Ore., and Jay (Cindy) Bartholomew of Hilo; half-brothers, Paul Derbyshire and Aaron Derbyshire of Keaau; stepbrother, William (Sharon) Gegg of Pleasant Hill, Calif.; stepsisters, Caroline Gegg of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Margot (Larry) Gegg-Mitchell of Chico, Calif.; nieces and nephews; grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.