The plane held a pilot, two instructors and two jumpers, likely preparing for a tandem jump over the island, Sakahara said.
Advertisement
Investigations into the incident are being carried out by both the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.
An FAA spokesman later said that this initial information is incorrect.
County officials said emergency crews were responding and asked the public to stay away from the area.
The crash occurred at about 9:30 a.m. A fifth man was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The aircraft came down just outside Port Allen Airport on the island of Kauai on Monday. Their names have not been released, and autopsies will be conducted this week.
Cisco Campos told the station that the engine sounded odd when the plane took off. He said it seemed to sputter and then cut out, and the plane appeared to turn back to the airport, but the engine caught fire.
The plane was reportedly registered to Skydive Kauai, which operates out of the airport.
Local Cllr Thomas McKeigue said the Horan family were well known in the Tullamore. One person was transported to a hospital where he later died.
Advertisement
Rescuers found the male pilot, 56, and the female passenger, 52, clinging to the plane in the water about 50 yards from shore.
