Small plane makes emergency landing in West Hawaii
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Courtesy photo A small plane made an emergency landing Wednesday on Waikoloa Village Road.
KAILUA-KONA — Waikoloa Road between Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Waikoloa Village reopened after crews removed a small aircraft that made an emergency landing Wednesday.
The highway was closed for about an hour.
Mike Hillestad was driving to work when he noticed the plane flying low, appearing as though it were ready to land. The craft’s shadow covered his car as he headed south with his 5-year-old daughter.
“The shadow was so big, I knew something was going on,” he said.
He watched as the plane landed on clear roadway ahead of him. Then the craft’s wing clipped a road sign and pulled the airplane down what Hillestad estimated was a 25-foot embankment.
Hillestad said he and about 20 other people pulled over and helped the young pilot, described as in his 30s, and the passenger, described as in his 20s, out of the aircraft.
“To be honest, they were pretty speechless, they were in shock,” Hillestad said about the occupants.
The pilot and co-pilot were the only occupants of the plane and were uninjured, according to police.
Eric Gomez of William Aerial &Mapping said he couldn’t provide any additional details about the incident as he was waiting to get in touch with the pilots.
