US investigators release haunting images of plane that sank 130 metres beneath the waves

Both pilots survived the crash off Hawaii, but remain in hospital in serious condition

In this Thursday, July 8, 2021 image from video provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, the jet cabin from Transair Flight 810 rests on the Pacific Ocean floor off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii. The NTSB located the aircraft on the Pacific Ocean floor approximately 2 miles from Ewa Beach. The fuselage split into 2 sections, breaking just forward of the wings. On July 2, the pilots of the Transair Flight 810 reported engine trouble and were attempting to return to Honolulu when they were forced to land the Boeing 737 in the water, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. (NTSB via AP)

The NTSB released underwater photos from the Transair Flight 810 that crashed into the sea off Honolulu, Hawaii on July 2.

Image from video released by the NSTB shows the jet engine inlet case from Transair Flight 810 resting on the Pacific Ocean floor off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii.

A US coastguard vessel patrols the area of debris from a 737 cargo plane that crashed into the sea off Honolulu, Hawaii on July 2.

Eerie photos of the wreckage of a Boeing 737 cargo plane that was forced to ditch in the sea off Hawaii because of engine failure have been released by the US National Transportation Safety Board.

Transair Flight 810 sent a mayday signal on July 2, shortly after taking off from Daniel K Inouye International Airport at Honolulu on the island of Oahu for Kahului on Maui.

One of the two pilots – the only crew aboard – said that one jet engine failed and the second was “running very hot”.

Air traffic control lost radio contact with the plane after the crew asked if there was a nearby runway they could use for an emergency landing.

Both pilots survived the crash landing at sea. One clung to the tail of the plane, which sank shortly before he was rescued by the coastguard.

Both pilots were seriously injured, and one of the men is in critical condition in hospital.

The plane sank to 130 metres, too deep for divers to investigate.

Sonar helped to find the wreck, while investigators sent a remotely operated submarine to capture images of the aircraft.

A company statement said flights of its Boeing 737 cargo planes would be grounded until it could be determined what caused the engines to fail.

The aircraft had been in service for 46 years, and investigators think that may have been a factor in the engine failures.

“Transair has voluntarily chosen not to operate our Boeing 737 cargo aircraft temporarily while we assess the situation and continue to co-operate with federal authorities in their investigation,” the company said.