Missing pilot, passenger found safe in waters off Kona
COURTESY U.S. COAST GUARD
Coast Guard and Hawaii Fire Department personnel stand with the mother of Sydnie Uemoto following her daughter’s rescue nine miles off Kona today. Uemoto and David McMahon were both rescued by a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew following an expansive joint search by Navy, Royal New Zealand air force, U.S. Air Force and Coast Guard crews.
COURTESY U.S. COAST GUARD
The mother of Sydnie Uemoto hugs Coast Guard crews following her daughter’s rescue nine miles off Kona today. Uemoto and David McMahon were both rescued by a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew following an expansive joint search by Navy, Royal New Zealand air force, U.S. Air Force and Coast Guard crews.
COURTESY U.S. COAST GUARD
The mother of Sydnie Uemoto checks on her daughter following her daughter’s rescue nine miles off Kona today. Uemoto and David McMahon were both rescued by a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew following an expansive joint search by Navy, Royal New Zealand air force, U.S. Air Force and Coast Guard crews.
COURTESY U.S. COAST GUARD
Coast Guard crews safely deliver David McMahon and Sydnie Uemoto to emergency medical personnel in Kona today, following their rescue nine miles off Kona. They were both rescued by a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew following an expansive joint search by Navy, Royal New Zealand air force, U.S. Air Force and Coast Guard crews.
A Coast Guard helicopter plucked a pilot and his passenger from the ocean about 6 miles northeast of Kona at 11:35 a.m. today after their twin-engine plane ditched in the ocean Thursday afternoon.
“What a way to celebrate aloha Friday,” Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer 2nd Class Tara Molle, said of the relief in finding the two alive. “We all had big smiles on our faces in the office when we heard the news.”
The Coast Guard had been searching for a twin-engine Piper PA23, after the pilot reported engine problems before ditching with a man and woman on board. The Coast Guard confirmed that the pilot of the aircraft is David McMahon, 26, and the passenger is Sydnie Uemoto, who is in her 20s. Both are believed to be residents of Kona.
Paramedics met them at Kona airport and treated them for minor injuries, Molle said.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force P3K2 Orion plane, here participating in Rim of the Pacific military exercises, spotted debris that may have been from the missing plane at 8:19 a.m. today, 52 miles northwest of Kona.
The Coast Guard sent a ship to the scene to see if the debris was from the missing plane.
A tour helicopter later spotted wreckage and reported it to the Coast Guard, Molle said. A Coast Guard helicopter went to the wreckage location and spotted two people in the water wearing life jackets, she said.
“They had been attempting to swim to shore through the night,” Molle said.
It’s not yet clear what happened to them.
“A lot of times these cases don’t really end well,” Molle said. “When we have a happy ending what more could you ask for?”
Coast Guard Petty Officer Melissa McKenzie said they received information about 3:15 p.m. Thursday that McMahon reported an in-flight emergency to the Honolulu Airport’s control facility. Shortly afterward, they lost contact with the tower, she said.
“The plane no longer appeared on the radar,” she said.
The plane was reportedly traveling to Kona from Maui, with its last known position about 25 miles northwest of Kona, the Coast Guard said.
The sea conditions this morning at the aircraft’s last known position — 25 miles northwest of Kona — were not ideal: winds of 12 mph from the northeast with waves 2 feet or less and an east swell of 4 feet. Visibility was limited with haze and isolated showers.
A Navy helicopter from the USS Chung Hoon, also in the area for RIMPAC, and the Coast Guard cutter Galveston Island also helped with search efforts.
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The Associated Press contributed to this story.
41 responses to “Missing pilot, passenger found safe in waters off Kona”
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Wonderful news!
Yes Absolutely! But, the article says they were found “about 6 miles Northeast of Kona” which is in a forest reserve. LOL
This is amazing! With all the horrible things that have been going on across the country and the rest of the world, as well as locally with tragic stories, it is a welcome bit of news.
Ditto!!
Awesome!!!
Nevah gonna fly wit you again, ya lousy smuck.
The plane was reported to have mechanical problems. Sounds like the pilot(s) did a great job ditching the plane safely, exiting before it sank or broke apart, and were fortunate to have been rescued by the Coast Guard. Other than the plane failure, it seems everyone involved performed admirably!
agree..coast guard is wonderful!
Please don’t feed this troll. It only encourages him.
Lucky Lucky Lucky folks. Thank your good stars.
WOW – How awesome is this!!! Miracles still happen. Praise God(s) and the Coast Guard.
Thank you, New Zealand Air Force for the assist in locating the plane, pilot and passenger.
Thank RIMPAC. Lucky timing. Several nations involved.
Good job Coast Guard!
Start writing up the commendations.
With all of the painful news that we’ve been hearing from around the world in the past day, what a blessing that these two were found safe, thanks to the Coast Guard, the Navy, other first responders and the luck that this near-miss happened during RIMPAC!
Totally agree. It was heartbreaking to see David’s father on TV this morning hoping to hear some good news. So happy they were found with only minor injuries and that angels were watching over them.
yes!
Thank God!!!
YES! THANK GOD!
No, thank the CG and others.
Mahalo Ke Akua
Great news indeed!
Out of fuel?
Both engines?
Surfer dude, How do you think the fuel systems work on a plane? Do you think they fill the gas tank for only one engine? LOL
Go back to surfing…………..
I concur. So funny comment. Did you know the left nut produces boys and the right, girls?
Usually in a light twin airplane, when one engine quits, the other engine will take you to the crash site.
Atta way to go US Coast Guard!
Great news! What a way to start the week-end. Happy for their families .
What a happy ending! The dad of the pilot said he had lost another son and the thought of losing a second son was unbearable. Rest easy dad. Your son is safe.
Thank be to God from whom all blessings flow!
A big shout out to our Coast Guard personnel and the New Zealand Air Force. Great job guys.
YAY!
Coast Guard rocks!
Yay! In all that is happening in this world, it is wonderful to hear a story with a happy outcome.
Looking at the above photo’s they show the fishing boat from last week instead of the debris from the aircraft.
What a great week end for the families. Big Mahalo to all involved in the search especially the Coast Guard.
Awesome! But isnt 6 miles NE of Kona dry land?
Great news…
What wonderful news! So happy for them both and also for their families and friends.
Nearly 20 hours in the water after ditching. To survive is no small thing. It’s really wonderful to see the military and the community pull together for these pilots. As the President of Mokulele Airlines said, training for ditching at sea is always theoretical. You don’t get to practice and perhaps they can share their first-hand knowledge with other pilots. I am very happy for their families.