On November 30, 2023, Hawaiian Airlines flight 105, a Boeing 717 (N494HA), collided with a tug vehicle while taxiing at Kahului Airport (OGG) on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The collision occurred at approximately 6:00 AM local time.

The Details

The flight was scheduled to depart from Kahului Airport to Honolulu International Airport (HLL) with 119 passengers and crew on board. After the plane started pushing back from Gate 17, it collided with a tug on the taxiway at the same time. 

The incident resulted in severe damage to the airplane, including damage to the left wing. Hawaiian Airlines also reported that an employee was injured in the accident. The extent of the injuries is currently unknown, but they are not believed to be life-threatening.

The collision resulted in the cancellation of Hawaiian Airlines flight 105. Passengers were deplaned from the aircraft and accommodated on other flights. The collision also caused some delays at Kahului Airport.

The FAA

The FAA is currently investigating the cause of the collision. However, it is not yet known what caused the tug vehicle to collide with the aircraft. There have been speculations that the tug vehicle driver may have been distracted or that the driver may have been unfamiliar with the airport taxiways.

Learning From Incidents

While it is never a good thing for incidents to happen, we can learn from them to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The FAA is committed to working with Hawaiian Airlines and other airlines to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

Improvements in training for tug vehicle drivers, stricter safety procedures, and installation of additional safety equipment on aircraft and tug vehicles are just some of the things on the horizon.