Coast Guard suspends search for missing airplane near Maui

HONOLULU – The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a privately owned Cessna 172S airplane that disappeared from radar while travelling from Maui to Molokai, Saturday night.

The determination to suspend the search was made at 3 p.m., Monday, pending further information.

“The decision to suspend a search is one of the hardest a commanding officer has to make,” said Captain Joanna Nunan, Coast Guard Sector Honolulu commanding officer. “Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family and friends of Mr. Krall during this difficult time.”

Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received a report at 7 p.m. Saturday that the airplane disappeared from radar approximately 2.5 miles north of Maui’s North Shore.

The Cessna pilot, Jose Krall, is believed to have been alone in the aircraft.

A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Barbers Point, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Ahi, from Honolulu, and response boat crews from Coast Guard Station Maui searched areas between Maui and Molokai. An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew searched Saturday night using an infrared sensor.

A debris field that appears to be from an aircraft was located approximately two miles north of Maui in the area that the airplane had disappeared from radar. Included among the debris is a landing gear wheel that could match the aircraft.

Maui Fire Department and Maui Police Department have conducted land searches without locating any signs of aircraft debris.

The Cessna 172S is a four-seat, single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft.

The public is asked to report any discovered shoreline debris resembling aircraft to be reported to the Coast Guard by calling 808-842-2601.