By Donald Wood, TravelPulse
A Hawaiian Airlines plane was forced to abort takeoff Saturday after passengers heard a loud bang and the pilot report a major malfunction with the engine.
According to Hawaii News Now, Hawaiian Airlines Flight HA144 was beginning takeoff from Lihue Airport on the island of Kauai to Oahu when an employee of the television company who was onboard the plane said the incident occurred.
The Hawaii News Now employee revealed the front wheels of the plane had already lifted off the ground when passengers heard a loud bang that some believed was a tire popping. The nose of the aircraft then touched back down as the pilot announced the engine malfunction.
Federal Aviation Administration officials said the plane aborted landing at 1:11 p.m. ET and was taxied back to its gate. The aircraft was met by airport firefighters and emergency personnel, but no injuries were reported.
Impacted passengers were booked on alternate flights with the assistance from Hawaiian Airlines employees.
Lihue Airport also experienced another maintenance issue with a plane at the facility about an hour later when Hawaiian Airlines Flight 394 to Oahu was delayed for around 60 minutes before eventually being granted permission to take off.
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