A skydiving plane crashed in Oahu, Hawaii on Friday night, killing all nine passengers aboard.
According to CBS, the King Air twin engine plane burst into flames as it hit the ground near Dillingham Airfield around 6:30 p.m. The names of the victims have not been released, but there were reportedly six employees and three customers on the flight.
Unfortunately, family members of those onboard likely witnessed the crash, as they were at the airport tower when it occurred, said Honolulu Fire Chief Manuel Neves.
“It is very difficult. In my 40 years as a firefighter here in Hawaii, this is the most tragic aircraft incident we’ve had,” Neves said.
While the cause of the crash is uncertain, witnesses said that the plane appeared to have trouble taking off on the runway.
“We saw big smoke. We saw a big fire and firemen trying to put it out — crazy,” witness Justin Kepa told KGMB.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the crash. Dillingham Airfield will be closed until further notice.
