All 11 People On Board Fatally Injured

A Beechcraft King Air with 11 people on board went down Friday shortly after takeoff from Dillingham Airfield on Oahu's North Shore, resulting in the fatal injury of everyone on the airplane.

The airplane was operated by the Oahu Parachute Center. It went down at about 6:30 p.m. local time near the western edge of the airfield, according to local authorities. A post-impact fire ensued.

Hawaii News Now reports that state officials initially reported that nine people had been fatally injured, but that number was increased to 11 based on information from the Hawaii Department of Transportation.

Fire Chief Manuel Neves told reporters that in his 40 years as a firefighter, "this is the most tragic aircraft incident we’ve had."

A witness said that the plane "nosedived" into the ground. Dillingham Airfield was closed over the weekend, and authorities said it would remain closed "indefinitely" while the accident was being investigated, the state said. The debris field encompassed a relatively small 50 by 50 foot area, according to authorities.

(Image from file. Not accident airplane)

FMI: Source report