HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
KONA PATROL DIVISION
SERGEANT RUSSELL PAIO
PHONE: 326-4646
FEBRUARY 27, 2004

MEDIA RELEASE

A Hawaiian Airlines passenger jet on a flight from Portland, Oregon, was struck by lightning Friday (February 27, 2004) and was forced to make an emergency landing at Kona International Airport in Keahole.

The plane landed safely. There were no reported injuries, and damages to the plane were not immediately known.

Hawaiian Airlines Flight 26 was about 12 miles of Kona on a flight to Honolulu about 2:50 p.m. when lightning struck its nose, causing the instrument panel to malfunction.

The Boeing 767 with 270 passengers and 19,000 pounds of fuel aboard made an emergency landing safely at the Kona International Airport.

No other details were immediately available.

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