Both pilots are reported to be safe, but seriously injured, after they ditched their Boeing 737 cargo plane off Honolulu early Friday. The FAA has confirmed that a Rhoades Express 737 (operating as Transair Flight 810) hit the water about 2:30 a.m. local time shortly after leaving Honolulu. “The pilots had reported engine trouble and were attempting to return to Honolulu when they were forced to land the aircraft in the water,” the FAA said in a statement. “According to preliminary information the U.S Coast Guard rescued both crew members.” ATC tapes show the crew struggled to maintain altitude with one engine out and that the remaining engine was “running hot” before the plane hit the water about two miles from land. The crew had been trying to get to a small airport west of Honolulu that was slightly closer. The pilots were plucked from the water and taken to a hospital where one is in critical condition, the other serious.
The aircraft was was on a short flight to Kahului on Maui. The aircraft was a relatively rare first-generation 737-200 and was almost 46 years old. It was first delivered to Pacific Western Airlines in Canada in 1975. Rhodes has five 737-200s flying in Hawaii. The planes are too noisy for most North American and European airports with their turbojet engines but Hawaii has exemptions from noise standards for the old Boeings.
Should be an interesting investigation, as this is a twin after all.
Hawaii operates older types and engines as they have Stage 2 noise exemptions not available on the mainland:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/47528
Also, interisland “cargo flights” in Hawaii usually involve food delivery to hotels/resorts.
I had the pleasure of knowing the contract freight operator who supplied the hotels on Lanai using a DC-3 back in the 90s. Relatively small cargos by weight (could have used anything with a cargo door, like a 206), but critical for the hotels.
Error alert!
The B737-200 and -200C had turbofan engines, JT8D-9 was used by PW.
B737s never had turbojets. Hint: Wikipedia gives basics.
That one needs investigation, should have been able to return to airport with only one engine.
With the CVR, FDR, & 2 living pilots, maybe this investigation will conclude BEFORE the decade ends! (meaning, why could the good engine NOT provide sufficient thrust?)