Hawaii DOT is reporting that an accident occurred earlier this morning that is currently being investigated. It took place on the tarmac at Kahului Airport and resulted in a hospitalization.
The Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717 and a ground equipment vehicle collided on the airport tarmac just after 6 am, sending the vehicle occupant to the Maui Memorial Hospital. The incident occurred following the push-back from Gate 17.
Hawaiian Airlines Flight 105 Canceled Following Tarmac Collision.
Cirium reports that Hawaiian flight 105 was ultimately canceled as a result of the incident. The flight was due to depart Kahului at 6:00 a.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 6:39 a.m.
The injuries of the Hawaiian Airlines’ employee aren’t known, although they are reported to not be life-threatening. Hawaiian said, “Our employee was transported by ambulance to a hospital. We thank airport first responders and medical personnel for their immediate assistance.”
Passengers on the Hawaiian Airlines aircraft were deplaned, and the flight canceled. They were accommodated on other flights.
The nature of airline ground incidents.
Collisions between aircraft and ground vehicles, referred to as ramp or ground incidents, are serious events that can happen on airport tarmacs and aprons. These typically involve support vehicles including aircraft tugs, baggage carriers, catering vehicles, or fuel trucks colliding with aircraft. Incidents like this often result in damage to both the vehicle and the aircraft, although we have no further information on this morning’s damage. As is the case today, investigations are customary to determine the collision’s cause and in order to prevent future problems.
Lead image of Hawaiian Air 717 plane at Kona. Inline image at Kahului Maui.
So there is no such thing as a tarmac at any airport. Where this incident occurred was on the ramp or apron area. The Apron is the place where airplanes park to board passengers and refuel. The term ramp is outdated but still commonly used in North America and a few other places. Apron is the internationally accepted term for this area of the airport. Calling a taxiway “the tarmac” is like calling it “the asphalt” or “the reinforced concrete.” It makes absolutely no sense and causes confusion. Just a friendly FYI for future stories
Hi AMT.
Thanks and duly noted. That’s the term that was shared by us by officials.
Aloha.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines Tarmac as “the area of ground where aircraft land, park and taxi.” In other words on the ground not in the air. BOH is exactly correct that this was a ground (Tarmac) incident.
Sorry but the cambridge dictionary is wrong. As someone who has grown up in aviation and has worked in the industry for 14 years, I can assure you that no one at any airport ever uses that term. It’s a term that has been misused for years and from mostly the media who have no idea what they are talking about. Again, tarmac refers to the material used for surfacing roads or other outdoor areas, consisting of crushed rock mixed with tar. Hence the name tarmac which is not found at any airport.
Yeah unfortunately it has been a long, misused term that no one in aviation uses. The only terms you hear are apron (or ramp), taxiway, runway and gate.
So where were the ground marshals and why wasn’t the tug driver a whole lot more attentive to what was going on around him? The aircraft Always has the right of way as opposed to ground vehicles. Finally, why show an aircraft that is obviously in Kona instead of one in Kahului?
You would be surprised at the “talent” of the people that are hired as ramp agents with all the airlines.