The Latest: Pilot reported engine problems before ditching

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Published July 16, 2016 3:30AM (EDT)

HONOLULU (AP) — The Latest on a missing aircraft in Hawaii (all times local):

4 p.m.

The Federal Aviation Administration says the pilot of a plane that disappeared from radar reported engine problems before ditching in the ocean off Hawaii.

The Coast Guard rescued a man and woman Friday, nearly a day after the small plane they were traveling in lost contact with air traffic controllers.

The two were treated for minor injuries. They were the only occupants of the dual-engine aircraft.

The Coast Guard says they had been trying to swim to shore through the night.

The Coast Guard initially reported they were flying from to Kona from Maui, but later corrected that information. The FAA confirms they were flying from west Oahu to Kona.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

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3:15 p.m.

The father of a pilot says he's "big-time relieved" the Coast Guard found his son alive in the water off Hawaii nearly a day after the plane he was flying disappeared from radar.

Richard McMahon says he's on his way Friday to the Big Island, where his son was taken after a Coast Guard helicopter crew hoisted him and a woman out of the water.

He says his son David McMahon is a pilot for Mokulele Airlines. He says David McMahon and a friend rented a plane for additional flying hours for his commercial pilot's license.

McMahon radioed about an air emergency Thursday afternoon. Then air traffic controllers lost contact with him, and the plane no longer appeared on radar.

The Coast Guard says McMahon and the woman he was flying with were treated for minor injuries.

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12:30 p.m.

The Coast Guard has rescued two people from the ocean off Hawaii nearly a day after their plane disappeared from radar.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Tara Molle says a helicopter crew plucked the man and woman out of the water about six miles northeast of the Kona airport at about 11:35 a.m. Friday.

David McMahon and Sydnie Uemoto were treated for minor injuries.

Molle says there's no word yet on what happened to their twin-engine plane that went missing while flying form Kona to Maui. The pilot radioed about an air emergency Thursday afternoon. The plane was last known to be 25 miles northwest of Kona.

She says there are no words to describe the Coast Guard's relief in finding them alive.

10:29 a.m.

Search crews are checking whether debris spotted in Hawaii waters is from a missing plane with two people on board.

Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Sara Mooers said Friday that a visiting New Zealand air force P3 plane saw the debris about 50 miles northwest of Kona. The Coast Guard is sending a ship to the scene.

Crews are looking for a dual-engine aircraft that radioed about an air emergency at 3:15 p.m. Thursday while flying from Kona to Maui in the Hawaiian Islands. It was last known to be 25 miles northwest of Kona.

The New Zealand plane is in Hawaii to participate in the Rim of the Pacific military exercises.

The two on board are identified as 26-year-old David McMahon and Sydnie Uemoto, who is in her 20s.

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This story has been corrected to say the New Zealand plane involved in the search is with the New Zealand air force not navy.

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9:45 a.m.

The U.S. Navy and a visiting New Zealand air force plane are joining the search for an aircraft that went missing while flying from Kona to Maui in the Hawaiian Islands.

A Coast Guard HC-130 aircraft and helicopter crews from Air Station Barbers Point are searching for the dual-engine aircraft with two people on board.

They're joined by a Navy helicopter from the USS Chung Hoon and a New Zealand air force P3 plane participating in the Rim of the Pacific military exercises.

The plane's pilot radioed about an air emergency at 3:15 p.m. Thursday. It was last known to be 25 miles northwest of Kona.

The two on board are identified as 26-year-old David McMahon and Sydnie Uemoto, who is in her 20s.


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