The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating an incident involving an American Airlines flight headed to Hawaii, which experienced what’s described as a “hard landing.” This resulted in injuries to several crew members and a passenger who needed medical attention at a Maui hospital.
On January 27, Flight 271 departed from Los Angeles International Airport at 10:31 a.m. and touched down at Kahului International Airport at 2:06 p.m. HST, as per FlightAware records.
The Airbus 321 aircraft was carrying a total of 167 passengers and seven crew members. Following the rough landing, one passenger and five flight attendants were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Thankfully, they have all been discharged since then.
Emergency services responded to the incident at the airport around 2:21 p.m., according to information from the Maui Police Department.
After the landing, the plane managed to taxi to the gate without any further issues, and all passengers were able to disembark safely. American Airlines has taken the aircraft out of service for inspection by its maintenance team.
Maui’s tourism industry had faced challenges after a significant wildfire in August 2023, but there has been a gradual recovery in recent months, especially with the return of Japanese travelers. Local officials have been encouraging tourists to visit the island to help bolster its economy, and West Maui reopened in October following the wildfire. However, there have been some concerns raised by residents, with some calling for a delay in the reopening to allow for further recovery efforts.
