No kidding. Wouldn't want to be married to her.

Fortunately they reported two souls to ATC.

maybe it was because she saw them turning right into Rhodes 809 who was on a visual approach for 4R? 1 controller handling multiple frequencies…

I’m trying to figure how two pilots who fly in/out of PHNL repeatedly, cannot figure out where the airport they just took off is NOW, 3 minutes later. It didn’t move.

They told ATC they had 2 hours of fuel onboard. This was a 46 yr old jet so who knows. The 737's are operated by Rhoades Aviation d/b/a Transair. They had 5 of them.

I've been flying in and out of HNL for years. There are times when the clouds move in below and although the airport itself is reporting VMC you can't see it. Frequently at night it can be as simple as the angle you're trying to see it from. IAW everybody else can see it but you.

exactly what I think… cloud layer below them… couldn’t see other than the two mountain ranges poking through. What eva the case… the pilots sounded pretty calm considering the gravity of the problem.

Your mind going 1000 miles an hour, your gut realizing today might be the day you don’t go home….you may not be able to pick it out among the sea of lights.

I’m going to stick up for the controller here. She was working Honolulu Approach, Departure, Tower, and Ground on more than one frequency. She was coordinating with the airport fire department and the coast guard. She wasn’t perfect, but I think she handled a very stressful situation quite well.

Interview with the Coast Guard Helicopter Pilots who rescued the 737 pilots. One of them mentioned they saw fuel in the water so it's not sounding like fuel exhaustion. The 2nd link is part 2 where they interview the Flight Mech and Rescue Swimmer:

https://youtu.be/z7s-yxH2xHQ

https://youtu.be/nZJPRAkyIRw