Improvements at airport coming soon, we hope

Plans for a new $1.1 billion concourse for Daniel K. Inouye Airport promise to modernize the aging facility with more passenger capacity and a new international arrivals area. Given the growing demand among airlines to expand Hawaii-bound seat inventories, that’s welcome news — as is that airlines and airport concession operators will pay for the upgrade. Here’s hoping that swift and efficient construction will make it possible to move up the grand opening date, which is set for 2028 or thereabouts.

United braces for probe of engine cover mishap

Major kudos to the pilots who pulled off a smooth emergency landing at the Honolulu airport on Tuesday after apparently losing an engine covering about 40 minutes before United Airlines 1175 reached the tarmac. United has said it will fully investigate and cooperate with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board, but declined to comment on the cause.

Several passengers on the flight from San Francisco documented the nerve-wracking arrival on social media. Among the posted videos was one shot after pilots had instructed all aboard to prep for a possible rough landing. Moments before touching down, passengers hunkered down and chanted “Brace! Brace! Brace!” Cheering followed when the plane landed without incident, with fire trucks standing by. Whew.