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'Engine malfunction' mid-takeoff forces Hawaiian Airlines flight cancellation

• A second flight out of Lihue was also delayed due to maintenance issues.

Inter-island flight passengers traveling to Oahu had to deplane the aircraft after the plane had a malfunction during takeoff. (Image: Hawaii News Now)

LIHUE (HawaiiNewsNow) - A Hawaiian Airlines flight en-route to Oahu experienced a major engine malfunction and had to abort takeoff Saturday afternoon.

A Hawaii News Now employee was on board Hawaiian Airlines flight 144 that was mid-take off when he said a last minute incident prevented the plane from fully leaving the ground.

The front end of the plane had already lifted off of the ground when passengers heard a loud noise. Some passengers said it sounded like a blown tire, but moments later the pilot came over the intercom and said there was "a major malfunction with the engine."

A Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson released this statement:

The pilot of HA144 aborted takeoff at Lihue Airport after one of the Boeing 717 aircraft's engine malfunctioned during the takeoff roll. The flight crew stopped the aircraft on the runway and passengers were notified of a "major engine malfunction." Emergency vehicles were asked to meet the plane as a precaution. Passengers and crew safely disembarked and were accommodated on other flights to Honolulu.

Hawaiian Airlines
The Boeing 717 was scheduled to depart at 1:11 p.m. but was later listed as 'canceled.'

Federal Aviation Administration officials later released a statement saying, "The crew aborted the takeoff due to an engine issue. The plane then taxied back to its gate."

Airport firefighters responded and the plane was towed back to Gate 4 at Lihue Airport.

No one was injured in the incident.

Passengers scrambled to get on alternate flights with the assistance from Hawaiian Airlines employees.

About an hour later, a second flight out of Lihue, flight 394 to Oahu, was also delayed due to maintenance issues.

The flight eventually departed after about an hour delay.

Incident: Hawaiian B712 at Lihue on Nov 3rd 2018, rejected takeoff due to engine failure

A Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717-200, registration N478HA performing flight HA-144 from Lihue,HI to Honolulu,HI (USA), was accelerating for takeoff from Lihue's runway 35 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 90 knots over ground) due to an engine (BR715) failure. The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron. The FAA confirmed the aircraft rejected takeoff due to an engine failure. Passengers reported there was a loud bang, then the brakes came on. Some passengers reported they believed the aircraft had already begun rotation for takeoff when the takeoff was rejected (editorial note: when the brakes come on the nose gear has to take additional load during the braking. The aircraft therefore pitches down generating the perceiption the aircraft's nose must have been in the air already and was lowered onto the ground again).