Taxiing jet collides with cargo vehicle

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717 collided with a cargo vehicle yesterday at Honolulu International Airport, slightly injuring the vehicle's driver.

The incident occurred at about 1:30 p.m. when flight 529 from Maui was taxiing to the interisland terminal, said Scott Ishikawa, Department of Transportation spokesman. The plane and vehicle, called a "cargo tug," collided as the plane was nearing the terminal, he said.

The driver of the cargo tug was taken to The Queen's Medical Center, where he was treated for minor cuts and bruises, Ishikawa said. None of the flight's 92 passengers or five crew members was injured, he said.

Hawaiian Airlines spokesman Keoni Wagner said the company is investigating the collision and he did not know why the airplane and cargo tug were in that area of the runway at the same time. He said he couldn't recall any similar incident involving a Hawaiian aircraft and a ground vehicle.

The passengers got off the plane on the runway and were taken to the terminal on airport buses, Wagner said.

The plane suffered damage to its right wing and was taken out of service to be repaired, he said. He said a spare plane was used and that Hawaiian's flight schedule was not affected.

Wagner said he did not know the extent of damage to the cargo vehicle.

Ishikawa said the plane was pushed off to the side and did not disrupt airport operations. He said various government agencies also will be investigating the incident.

Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8025.