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Katar-Korruptionsskandal im Europäischen Parlament

2022-12-25T13:34:53Z

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{{Short description|2022 political scandal in the EU}}
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| footer = [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] [[Eva Kaili]] (left), then vice-president of the European Parliament, was implicated in the scandal alongside former MEP [[Antonio Panzeri]] (right).
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In an ongoing [[political scandal]] dubbed '''Qatargate''',<ref>{{cite news |title=Qatargate: European Parliament corruption scandal |url=https://www.politico.eu/tag/qatargate-european-parliament-corruption-scandal/ |access-date=19 December 2022 |work=[[POLITICO]]}}</ref>{{r|Humanite}} politicians, political staffers, lobbyists, civil servants and their families are alleged to have been involved in corruption, money laundering, and organised crime involving the states of Morocco and Qatar in exchange for influence at the [[European Parliament]]. Qatar denies the allegations. Law enforcement authorities in Belgium, Italy and Greece seized €1.5 million in cash, confiscated computers and mobile phones, and charged four individuals with the alleged offences.{{r|BBC|POLITICOSIX|LESOIRTHREE}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 December 2022 |title=Qatar Gate, 750 thousand euros seized from Eva Kaili: all in cash, denominations of 20 and 50 euros |url=https://www.unionesarda.it/en/world/qatar-gate-750-thousand-euros-seized-from-eva-kaili-all-in-cash-denominations-of-20-and-50-euros-gjpwfm3r |access-date= |website=[[L'Unione Sarda]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Investigation, raids and arrests==
In July 2022, the Central Office for the Repression of Corruption ({{lang-fr|link=no|Office central pour la répression de la corruption}}, OCRC, {{lang-nl|Centrale Dienst voor de Bestrijding van Corruptie}}, CDBC), a unit of the [[Belgian Federal Police]], opened an investigation into an alleged criminal organisation.<ref name="LeSoir2">{{cite web |first1=Joël |last1=Matriche |first2=Louis |last2=Colart |first3=Kristof |last3=Clérix |date=9 December 2022 |title=Info «Le Soir»: le Qatar soupçonné de corruption en plein cœur de l'Europe |language=fr |trans-title=''Le Soir'' news: Qatar suspected of corruption in the heart of Europe |url=https://www.lesoir.be/482080/article/2022-12-09/info-le-soir-le-qatar-soupconne-de-corruption-en-plein-coeur-de-leurope|access-date=12 December 2022 |website=[[Le Soir]]}}</ref> The investigation was led by the [[Examining magistrate|investigating magistrate]] Michel Claise.{{r|BT}}

Acting on the investigation, on 9 December 2022, Belgian police executed 20 raids at 19 different addresses across [[Brussels]] in connection with the conspiracy and made eight arrests across Belgium and Italy.<ref name="LeSoir2"/><ref name=TIMEMAG/> The homes and offices of the suspects were searched, including offices within the premises of [[Espace Léopold|the European Parliament buildings in Brussels]].{{r|NYT}} In line with the [[Belgian Constitution]], the [[President of the European Parliament]], [[Roberta Metsola]], was required to return from her home in Malta to be present for the search at the home of [[Eva Kaili]], who has [[diplomatic immunity]] as an [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] and a [[Vice-President of the European Parliament]].{{r|F24|EN}}

Following the raids at Kaili's home, her father was later arrested as he tried to flee the [[Sofitel]] hotel at Place Jourdan in Brussels after being tipped off about the raids. Investigators found a suitcase with "several hundred thousand euros" on his person as he attempted to flee.<ref name="WaPo">{{cite news |title=What is the Qatar corruption scandal that has rocked the European Parliament? |first1=Emily |last1=Rauhala |first2=Annabelle |last2=Timsit |date=12 December 2022 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/12/qatar-european-parliament-eva-kaili-corruption/ |access-date=12 December 2022 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref name="POLITICOTHREE">{{cite news |last=Wheaton |first=Sarah |date=12 December 2022 |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-under-attack-roberta-metsola-police-launch-fresh-raids-qatar-corruption-scandal-eva-kaili-socialist-democrats-ursula-von-der-leyen-visentini-giorgi-panzeri-margaritis-schinas/ |title=EU Parliament 'under attack' as Qatar corruption scandal grows |work=Politico Europe}}</ref>

Included in the raids were locations linked to [[Antonio Panzeri]], an Italian former MEP. Upon searching his home, police found a large quantity of cash in his "well stocked safe".{{r|LeSoir2|LESOIRTHREE}} At the same time investigators raided the offices of the international NGO Fight Impunity, an organisation set up to promote the fight against impunity for serious violations of human rights and crimes against humanity, of which Panzeri is the president.<ref name="FI">{{cite web |date=2019|title=What We Do |url=https://www.fightimpunity.com/what-we-do |access-date=12 December 2022 |website=Fight Impunity}}</ref><ref name="FItwo">{{cite web |date=2019|title=Who we Are |url=https://www.fightimpunity.com/who-we-are |access-date=14 December 2022 |website=Fight Impunity}}</ref>

After the conclusion of the Brussels raids, police had arrested Eva Kaili; Antonio Panzeri; Francesco Giorgi, Kaili's husband and an advisor of the Italian MEP [[Andrea Cozzolino]]; Alexandros Kailis, Kaili's father and former Greek politician; [[Luca Visentini]], general secretary of the [[International Trade Union Confederation]] (ITUC); Niccolò Figa-Talamanca, Secretary-General of the NGO No Peace Without Justice; and an unnamed assistant of the Italian MEP [[Alessandra Moretti]].{{r|NYT|WaPo|POLITICOTHREE|FP1|LeSoir|ElPais}} Alexandros Kailis was released from custody and Visentini was [[Bail|conditionally released]].{{r|Soir}}{{efn|Conditional release in this context is similar to bail in other jurisdictions. Bail is "a set of restrictions that the suspect will have to abide by for a set period of time. Under this usage, bail can be given both before and after charge." Release on bail implies no more, or less, guilt than does an unconditional release.|group=nb}} €600,000 in cash was reportedly found at Panzeri's home with additional cash being found at Kaili's father's home, his hotel room and the home shared by Kaili and Giorgi. In total, the combined amount of cash found in the raids totalled €1.5million.{{r|LESOIRTHREE|POLITICOLIVE|TIMEMAG}} Following Kaili's arrest she was detained at the {{interlanguage link|Prison de Saint-Gilles|fr}} until her transfer after five days to a prison in [[Haren, Belgium|Haren, Brussels]].<ref>{{cite web |date=13 December 2022|title=From Dickensian Saint-Gilles to Heaven in Haren|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/corruption-european-parliament-qatar-live-blog/#1289574|access-date=13 December 2022 |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref>{{r|POLITICOprison}}

In addition to the searches of properties belonging to those who were arrested, searches were also carried out at the homes of four Parliamentary assistants (Federica Garbagnati, Giuseppe Meroni, Donatella Rostagno and Davide Zoggia), among others, but these raids did not result in arrests. Garbagnati, Rostagno and Zoggia are assistants to the MEPs [[Alessandra Moretti]], [[Marie Arena]] and [[Pietro Bartolo]], while Meroni works as assistant to [[Lara Comi]].<ref name="LeSoir2"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 December 2022 |title=Il Qatargate si allarga {{!}} Altri italiani coinvolti nella Tangentopoli europea |url=https://www.linkiesta.it/2022/12/qatargate-uffici-sigillati-italiani-coinvolti/ |access-date= |website=[[Linkiesta]] |language=it-IT}}</ref> Other raids took place at the homes of two undisclosed advisors and one European Parliament official.{{r|F24|LeSoir2}}

As the raids were being carried out in Brussels, the [[Polizia di Stato|Italian State Police]] executed two [[European Arrest Warrants]] across Italy.{{r|POLITICOTWO}} Maria Colleoni, Panzeri's wife, was arrested at their family home in [[Calusco d'Adda]], close to [[Bergamo]], Italy, and his daughter, Silvia Panzeri, was arrested later that evening in [[Milan]]. Both women were transferred to a Bergamo prison for detention.{{r|POLITICOTWO|LeSoir2}}<ref>{{cite web |date=12 December 2022 |title=Antonio Panzeri, moglie e figlia fermate. La casa di famiglia a Calusco |trans-title=Antonio Panzeri, wife and daughter arrested. The family home in Calusco |language=it |url=https://bergamo.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/22_dicembre_09/pier-antonio-panzeri-moglie-figlia-arrestate-loro-casa-calusco-56fb3f0e-77ea-11ed-8b31-7101dab59dee.shtml|access-date=12 December 2022 |website=Bergamo Corriere}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, Italian authorities carried out a raid at the Italian home of Giorgi where an additional €20,000 in cash was confiscated.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 December 2022 |title=Get That Cash |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/corruption-european-parliament-qatar-live-blog/#1289598 |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=[[Politico]] |language=EN}}</ref> As of 14 December, the two women had been released under house arrest to a property in [[Lombardy]]. {{r|TVP}}

The European Arrest Warrant revealed that the charges against Panzeri also relate to similar charges involving gift received from the state of Morocco.{{r|TVP}}

The day following the raids, on 10 December, a further search was carried out at the home of the vice chair of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula, the Belgian MEP [[Marc Tarabella]]; Tarabella was not arrested.{{r|POLITICOONE}}

On 12 December 2022, it was announced that the Greek Anti-Money Laundering Authority had frozen all of Kaili's assets and those of close family members. This includes all of Kaili's bank accounts, safes, companies and any other financial assets. Of particular interest to the authorities, according to the head of the Anti-Money Laundering Authority, is a newly established [[estate agency]] in [[Kolonaki]], an upmarket neighbourhood of [[Athens]].<ref>{{cite web |date=12 December 2022 |title=Corruption au Parlement européen: Athènes gèle tous les avoirs de la vice-présidente Eva Kaili écrouée |language=fr |trans-title=Corruption in the European Parliament: Athens freezes all assets of imprisoned Vice-President Eva Kaili |url=https://www.lesoir.be/482523/article/2022-12-12/corruption-au-parlement-europeen-athenes-gele-tous-les-avoirs-de-la-vice?referer=%2Farchives%2Frecherche%3Fdatefilter%3Dlastyear%26sort%3Ddate%2Bdesc%26word%3Dkaili |access-date=12 December 2022 |website=[[Le Soir]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Qatar Scandal: Greece Freezes All Assets Owned by MEP Eva Kaili |first=Tasos |last=Kokkinidis |date=12 December 2022 |url=https://greekreporter.com/2022/12/12/qatar-gate-greece-freezes-assets-eva-kaili/|access-date=12 December 2022 |website=Greek Reporter}}</ref>

As the European Parliament convened for the first time following the scandal, on 13 December 2022 at its [[Seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg|seat]] in [[Strasbourg]] in France, the offices of [[Pietro Bartolo]] MEP and the Parliamentary official Mychelle Rieu were both sealed by investigators.{{r|POLITICOLIVE}}

On 14 December 2022, media outlet the [[Time (magazine)|Times (magazine)]] published had that after at least 20 raids across Brussels, authorities have confiscated more than $1 million in cash and charged four people with corruption, money laundering, and participation in a criminal organization on behalf of a "Gulf State,". According to the Times, Belgian media identified "Gulf State" as Qatar but as per the article European authorities have not named the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Qatar Corruption Scandal Is Rocking E.U. Politics |url=https://time.com/6240539/eva-kaili-european-union-eu-corruption/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Time |language=en}}</ref>

The Qatari government denied any involvement and accused the United Arab Emirates of orchestrating the scandal. Journalist Jack Parrock stated that every Qatari government official believe that the UAE was behind it.<ref>https://www.watanserb.com/2022/12/14/%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%A4%D9%83%D8%AF-%D9%88%D9%82%D9%88%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA/</ref>

On 15 December the [[European Public Prosecutor's Office]] (EPPO) requested the European Parliament to lift its diplomatic immunity from Kaili and her fellow Greek MEP [[Maria Spyraki]]; the EPPO stated that the request was based on an investigative report received from the [[European Anti-Fraud Office]] (OLAF) regarding "suspicion of fraud detrimental to the EU budget, in relation to the management of the parliamentary allowance", specifically regarding money paid to parliamentary assistants.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Bayer |first1=Lili |last2=Lynch |first2=Suzanne |date=15 December 2022 |title=EU prosecutor targets two MEPs, possibly widening scandal |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/european-public-prosecutor-office-meps-immunity-qatargate-corruption-scandal-eva-kaili-maria-spyraki/ |access-date= |website=[[Politico Europe]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Trial and prosecution==
The four charged suspects, Kaili, Panzeri, Giorgi and Figà-Talamanca, were scheduled to appear at the [[Palais de Justice, Brussels]], the country's primary law courts, on 14 December for [[arraignment]] proceedings. Three of the four suspects appeared in court, but strike action by prison staff prevented Kaili's appearance; her appearance was rescheduled for 22 December 2022.{{r|POLITICOprison}} Panzeri and Giorgi were both remanded into custody pending further investigation. Figà-Talamanca was released from custody pending further investigation on the condition that he wear an [[electronic tagging|electronic monitoring ankle bracelet]].<ref>{{cite news |last= Blenkinsop|first= Philip|date=14 December 2022 |title=EU–Qatar graft scandal uncovered by year-long, pan-Europe probe, Belgium says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/judge-decide-detention-eu-qatar-graft-scandal-suspects-2022-12-14/ |work=[[reuters]] |location= Brussels |access-date=14 December 2022}}</ref>{{r|ElPais}}

On 15 December 2022, Giorgi confessed to having been bribed by Qatari officials to influence the European Parliament's decisions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 December 2022 |title=European Parliament corruption: Kaili's partner confesses to role |url=https://www.jpost.com/international/article-725021 |access-date= |website=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Reaction==
[[File:European Parliament Strasbourg Hemicycle - Diliff.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Hemicycle of the European Parliament|Inside the Hemicycle of the European Parliament, Strasbourg]]
Immediately following the arrests, strong reactions of condemnation of Vice-President Kaili came from around the [[European Union]]. After the story was first reported by Belgian media, the [[President of the European Parliament]], [[Roberta Metsola]], stated that the European Parliament had been complying with an ongoing investigation, without specifying its nature.<ref>{{Cite tweet |first=Roberta |last=Metsola |author-link=Roberta Metsola |user=EP_President |number=1601509250022244352 |title=Our @Europarl_EN stands firmly against corruption. At this stage, we cannot comment on any ongoing investigations except to confirm that we have & will cooperate fully with all relevant law enforcement & judicial authorities. We'll do all we can to assist the course of justice.|date=10 December 2022|access-date=12 December 2022}}</ref> Immediately following the arrests, both [[PASOK]], Kaili's political party in Greece, and the [[Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats|Socialists and Democrats Group]] inside the European Parliament announced Kaili's suspension from their respective parties.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wheaton |first1=Sarah |last2=Camut |first2=Nicolas |date=9 December 2022 |title=Qatar 'corruption' scandal rocks EU Parliament |work=[[Politico Europe]] |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-police-raid-gulf-lobbying-eu-parliament/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 December 2022 |title=PASOK expels MEP Eva Kaili due to ongoing corruption investigation |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1199905/pasok-expels-mep-eva-kaili-due-to-ongoing-corruption-investigation/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=[[Kathimerini]]}}</ref> Two days following the arrests, Metsola suspended Kaili's responsibilities and powers as a [[Vice-President of the European Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Greek MEP stripped of vice president powers over graft probe|website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |url=https://www.dw.com/en/greek-mep-stripped-of-vice-president-powers-over-graft-probe/a-64057460|date=11 December 2022|access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref> In a vote of the full chamber, Kaili was officially removed as vice president by a [[supermajority]].{{r|BTONE}}

At the opening of the first meeting of the European Parliament following the raids, on 12 December President Metsola announced that all work with Qatar would be suspended.{{r|EA}} At the same meeting the [[Greens–European Free Alliance]] and [[Renew Europe]] both called for an inquiry committee to be set up by the European Parliament.{{r|EA}} The suspension of Parliamentary business at this time is significant as it comes just three days before the Parliament was due to vote on introducing a [[travel visa|visa-free travel]] agreement with Qatar and other countries.{{r|EA}} This resulted in the vote on visa-free travel to Ecuador, Kuwait, and Oman also being cancelled.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 December 2022 |title=EU Parliament Postpones Voting on Schengen Visa Exemption for Ecuador |url=https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/eu-parliament-postpones-voting-on-schengen-visa-exemption-for-ecuador/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=Schengen Visa Info}}</ref> In addition, a major and controversial [[Air transport agreement|air transit agreement]] that would have allowed [[Qatar Airways]] unlimited access to the EU market was put on hold after warning that Qatar may have interfered in Parliament's internal deliberations on the agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2022 |title=Scandal pushes MEPs to review Qatar Airways' access deal with EU |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/scandal-european-parliament-qatar-airways/ |access-date= |website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref> During the negotiations there was criticism by EU member states that the agreement, negotiated by the Parliament's [[European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism|transport committee]], was unduly favourable to Qatar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 January 2018 |title=Troubled skies over attempt to protect EU's aviation industry|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/troubled-skies-over-attempt-to-protect-eus-aviation-industry/ |access-date= |website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref> Later the full chamber voted to suspend all work on files involving Qatar in a 541–2 vote, with three abstentions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooke |first=Lorne |date=15 December 2022 |title=EU parliament suspends work on files involving Qatar |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/eu-parliament-chief-lawmakers-reviewing-qatar-files-95360267 |access-date= |website=[[ABC News]] |language=en}}</ref>

Ahead of the opening of the plenary discussion several MEPs in the Socialists and Democrats Group stepped down from positions within the Parliament. [[Marc Tarabella]] suspended himself from the S&D group entirely, [[Marie Arena]] stood down as the Chair of the Parliament's [[European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights|human rights committee]], [[Pietro Bartolo]] suspended his position as group spokesman on visa liberalisation and [[Andrea Cozzolino]] suspended his role as group spokesman on urgencies.{{r|EA}} Tarabella was later suspended by his national party, the [[Wallonia|Walloon]] [[Socialist Party (Belgium)|Socialist Party]].<ref>{{cite web |date=14 December 2022 |title=BELGIAN SOCIALISTS SUSPEND LAWMAKER WHOSE HOUSE WAS RAIDED|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/corruption-european-parliament-qatar-live-blog/#1289541 |access-date=14 December 2022 |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref>

The chair of the Parliamentary EU–Qatar Friendship Group, [[José Ramón Bauzá]] MEP, announced the suspension of the group following the revelation.{{R|POLITICOLIVE}} In a statement Bauzá said that he was doing so "in view of the very serious events of the last few days, and until we get to the bottom of the matter".<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=JRBauza |number=1602375240675360769 |title=In view of the very serious events of the last few days, and until we get to the bottom of the matter, I am announcing the suspension of the EU–Qatar Friendship Group.}}</ref>

The [[European People's Party]] (EPP), the largest political group inside the Parliament, took the decision to suspend all [[foreign policy]] work relating to all matters external to the European Union until the integrity of the procedure could be ensured. The EPP encouraged other parties to follow suit.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 December 2022 |title=EPP to Halt Parliament Resolutions on Foreign Affairs |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/corruption-european-parliament-qatar-live-blog/#1289613 |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref>

[[Dino Giarrusso]] MEP reported that he and others had been approached by Qatari officials many times: "They were hoping to improve the country's reputation especially in the run-up to the [[2022 FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cup]]".{{r|FT}} The behaviour of some MEPs regarding Qatar had already been the subject of criticism even before the scandal began: a resolution by [[Manon Aubry]] condemning the exploitation of migrant workers in Qatar had stalled in the Parliament for more than one year before passing, due to opposition from the S&D and EPP group.<ref name="Humanite">{{Cite web |last=De Santis |first=Gaël |date=12 December 2022 |title=« Qatargate » : les socialistes européens dans la tourmente |url=https://www.humanite.fr/monde/corruption/qatargate-les-socialistes-europeens-dans-la-tourmente-774556 |access-date= |website=[[L'Humanité]] |language=fr}}</ref>

After the scandal broke out, several media organisations noted that Kaili had visited Qatar one month before the scandal, meeting with the Qatari Minister of Labour [[Ali bin Samikh Al Marri]]; upon her return to Brussels, she had praised Qatar as a "frontrunner in labour rights" in a speech in front of the European Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stamouli |first=Nektaria |date=13 December 2022 |title=The long rise and abrupt fall of Greek MEP Eva Kaili |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-long-rise-and-abrupt-fall-of-greek-mep-eva-kaili-socialists-democrats-pasok-qatar-scandal-european-parliament/ |access-date= |website=[[Politico Europe]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 December 2022 |title=Corruption: Sanctions pour Eva Kaili, la vice-présidente du Parlement européen |language=fr |work=[[Le Matin (Switzerland)|Le Matin]] |url=https://www.lematin.ch/story/la-grecque-eva-kaili-nest-plus-vice-presidente-du-parlement-europeen-591376973435 |access-date= |issn=1018-3736}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=13 December 2022 |title=Kaili feels betrayed over European Parliament stance in Qatar graft scandal |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kaili-feels-betrayed-over-european-parliament-stance-qatar-graft-scandal-lawyer-2022-12-13/ |access-date=}}</ref>

[[Ursula von der Leyen]], President of the [[European Commission]], accused Qatar of seeking to buy influence in the European Parliament chamber and that it was of the "utmost concern". Von der Leyen called for a body to be created to uphold the rules on integrity and ethics across all EU institutions.<ref name="FT2">{{cite news |date=12 December 2022 |title=Fresh raids as Qatar corruption scandal rocks Brussels |newspaper=[[Financial Times]] |first1=Henry |last1=Foy |first2=Alice |last2=Hancock |first3=Eleni |last3=Varvitsioti |first4=Andy |last4=Bounds |url=https://www.ft.com/content/4f5c4eb2-a8d3-46b6-8fdc-8a363ab52b87|access-date=12 December 2022}}</ref> The former President of the European Parliament and current [[European Commissioner]] responsible for [[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy|Foreign Affairs and Security]], [[Josep Borrell]], was quoted as saying "the news is very worrisome, very, very worrisome. We are facing some events, some facts that certainly worry me. [We] have to act according to not only to the facts but to the ... evidence. I am sure you understand that these are very grave accusations."<ref>{{cite news |title=EU bribery investigation: Greek authorities order freezing of MEP's assets |first1=Jennifer |last1=Rankin |first2=Helena |last2=Smith |date=12 December 2022 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/world/europe/2022/12/12/josep-borrell-calls-eu-parliaments-qatar-scandal-very-very-worrisome/|access-date=12 December 2022}}</ref> The [[European Ombudsman]], [[Emily O'Reilly]], was, however critical of the response of Von der Leyen and fellow politicians and institutions, highlighting the lack of progress shown by von der Leyen following her pledge that transparency would be a core part of her mandate when she became European Commission President.{{r|POLITICOSIX}} O'Reilly called for a body to be created with real investigatory and sanctions powers.{{r|POLITICOSIX}}

The Belgian Prime Minister [[Alexander De Croo]] was also critical of the European institutions in his response, stating that "Belgian justice is doing what, at first sight, the European Parliament hasn't done. The European Parliament has a lot of means to regulate itself. It turns out that this is largely a system of auto-control based on voluntary efforts, which has clearly not been sufficient."{{r|POLITICOLIVE}}

{{Quote box
|quote = Belgian justice is doing what, at first sight, the European Parliament hasn't done. ... the European Parliament has a lot of means to regulate itself. It turns out that this is largely a system of auto-control based on voluntary efforts, which has clearly not been sufficient.
|author = —[[Alexander De Croo]], [[Prime Minister of Belgium]]
|source = 13 December 2022<ref name="DeCrooCOMMENT">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/corruption-european-parliament-qatar-live-blog/#1289490 |title=BELGIUM DOES WHAT PARLIAMENT FAILS TO DO, SAYS PM DE CROO|work=[[POLITICO]]}}</ref>
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[[Annalena Baerbock]], the German [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]], highlighted that the scandal is leading to concerns from citizens and affects the credibility and legitimacy of the [[institutions of the European Union]].<ref name="FT2"/>

Reactions also came from European [[civil society]] organisations. [[Transparency International]] described the incident as "the most egregious case" of alleged corruption the European Parliament has ever seen.{{r|POLITICOFIVE}} The founder of the [[Good Lobby]] commented that "[w]hatever its final outcome, [the] Qatar 'corruption' scandal has unveiled an inconvenient, and for most Europeans already obvious, truth. Money does buy influence in the EU", and that "[t]he EU Parliament and most of its members have historically resisted stricter integrity rules and [an] effective enforcement system."<ref name="WaPo"/>

As news broke of the investigation, the [[Advisory board|honorary board]] of the implicated NGO, Fight Impunity, resigned en masse. The board members included high-profile European policymakers including [[Federica Mogherini]] (a former [[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy|EU High Representative]] in the [[Juncker Commission]]), [[Bernard Cazeneuve]] (formerly [[Prime Minister of France]]), [[Dimitris Avramopoulos]] (a former EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship in the Juncker Commission), [[Cecilia Wikström]] (a former Chair of the [[European Parliament Committee on Petitions]]) and [[Emma Bonino]] (a former [[European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy|EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection]] in the [[Santer Commission]]).{{r|POLITICOSEVEN}} The honorary board has no executive or managerial role, so there is no suspicion or accusations against any member of the board.{{r|FT}}

The Qatari Mission to the European Union said, "[t]he State of Qatar categorically rejects any attempts to associate it with accusations of misconduct. Any association of the Qatari government with the reported claims is baseless and gravely misinformed. The State of Qatar works through institution-to-institution engagement and operates in full compliance with international laws and regulations."{{r|WaPo}}

Kaili has also denied any wrongdoing in the incident. Her lawyers appeared on Greek TV stating, "[h]er position is that she is innocent, she has nothing to do with bribery from Qatar".{{r|POLITICOLIVE}}

Following Visentini's [[Bail|conditional release]] on Sunday 11 December 2022, in a statement issued through the ITUC, he replied to the allegations by saying:{{r|Soir}}

<blockquote>I am pleased that the questioning has concluded and I was able to fully answer all the questions. Should any further allegations be made, I look forward to the opportunity to refute them, as I am innocent of any wrongdoing. Any form of corruption is completely unacceptable and I am absolutely committed to the fight against corruption. I also wish to reconfirm the position that I have taken publicly that further pressure must be put on Qatar for workers and other human rights. The situation today is still not satisfactory, as I stated to the media at the end of my visit to Qatar.<ref name="ITUC">{{cite news |url=https://www.ituc-csi.org/ituc-statement-concerning-qatar |title=ITUC statement concerning Qatar allegations|work=ITUC}}</ref></blockquote>

Furthermore Visentini, released after 48 hours in police custody in Belgium and rejected any allegation of wrongdoing, made a statement on EU-Qatar bribery scandal.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-12-20 |title=Union chief resigns in EU-Qatar bribery scandal |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/50390b9e-3ac5-4898-a5a2-f2f9062bd174 |access-date=2022-12-22}}</ref><blockquote>I have accepted a donation from Fight Impunity [Panzeri’s NGO] for a sum lower than €50,000, which was aimed at reimbursing some of the costs incurred to finance my campaign for the ITUC congress and I have transferred the sum to the ITUC solidarity fund in order to pay for the union’s travel costs [to Melbourne]. I accepted the donation in cash [because of Panzeri’s good reputation] and its no-profit nature . . . it was in no way connected to a corruption attempt or aimed at influencing my position on Qatar.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-12-20 |title=Union chief resigns in EU-Qatar bribery scandal |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/50390b9e-3ac5-4898-a5a2-f2f9062bd174 |access-date=2022-12-22}}</ref></blockquote>On 15 December the [[European People's Party]] (EPP) reacted by declaring, "We need to discuss hypocrisy ... This is an S&D scandal."<ref>{{Cite tweet |author-link=European People's Party |user=EPP |number=1603377414826082306 |title=We need to discuss hypocrisy |date=15 December 2022|access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref> In an attempt to focus the scandal on the [[Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats]] Group (S&D), rather than the European Parliament as a whole, they continued, "There has been a consistent effort to turn #Qatargate into an institutional issue alone. But this scandal is not an orphan. ... It has an address. And that's the S&D Group."<ref>{{Cite tweet |author-link=European People's Party |user=EPP |number= 1603377417505996800 |title= We need to discuss ownership |date=15 December 2022|access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref> One of the assistants whose flats were searched (Giuseppe Meroni) works for the EPP member [[Lara Comi]], and the EPP member [[Maria Spyraki]] was later also put under investigation by the [[European Public Prosecutor's Office]] (EPPO).<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Bayer |first1=Lili |last2=Lynch |first2=Suzanne |date=15 December 2022 |title=EU prosecutor targets two MEPs, possibly widening scandal |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/european-public-prosecutor-office-meps-immunity-qatargate-corruption-scandal-eva-kaili-maria-spyraki/ |access-date=18 December 2022 |website=[[Politico Europe]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Bayer |first1=Lili |last2=Lynch |first2=Suzanne |date=15 December 2022 |title=Europe's conservatives go on the attack over Qatargate — but speak too soon |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/epp-group-attacks-sd-qatargate-eu-parliament/ |access-date=18 December 2022 |website=[[Politico Europe]]}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{reflist |refs=
<ref name=EN>{{cite news |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/12/09/four-linked-to-eu-parliament-arrested-amid-suspicions-of-corruption-involving-a-persian-gu |title=Four charged in connection with Qatar corruption scandal at European Parliament |date=12 December 2022 |work=[[Euronews]]}}</ref>
<ref name=BBC>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63941509 |work=[[BBC News]] |title=EU corruption charges 'very very worrisome', says foreign policy chief |first=James |last=Gregory |date=12 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name=NYT>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/11/world/europe/eu-parliament-bribery-qatar.html?searchResultPosition=1 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=4 Charged With Corruption in Bribery Inquiry Linked to Qatar |author=Matina Stevis-Gridneff |date=11 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name=FT>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/1023d8aa-1fa4-4e6f-abbb-68ef101ccb72 |title=European parliament shaken by Qatar corruption scandal |newspaper=[[Financial Times]] |first1=Valentina |last1=Pop |first2=Silvia Sciorilli |last2=Borrelli |first3=Andy |last3=Bounds |date=11 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name=F24>{{cite news |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221211-greek-mep-held-as-qatar-graft-probe-expands-1 |work=[[France 24]] |title=Greek MEP held as Qatar graft probe expands |date=11 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name=POLITICOONE>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/mep-kaili-charged-with-corruption-by-belgian-prosecutors-reports/ |title=EU Parliament VP Kaili charged with corruption in Qatar scandal probe |date=11 December 2022 |work=[[Politico]]}}</ref>
<ref name=POLITICOTWO>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/qatar-gate-pier-antonio-panzeri-italian-ex-meps-wife-and-daughter-arrested/ |title=Qatargate: Italian ex-MEP's wife and daughter arrested |date=12 December 2022 |work=[[Politico]]}}</ref>
<ref name=FP1>{{cite news |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/12/12/eu-parliament-qatar-corruption-belgium-investigation/ |title=Corruption Scandal Roils European Parliament |date=12 December 2022 |work=Foreign Policy}}</ref>
<ref name=LeSoir>{{cite news |url=https://www.lesoir.be/482560/article/2022-12-12/corruption-au-parlement-europeen-leurodeputee-moretti-se-defend-de-tout-lien?referer=%2Farchives%2Frecherche%3Fdatefilter%3Dlastyear%26sort%3Ddate%2Bdesc%26word%3Dkaili |title=Corruption au Parlement européen: l'eurodéputée Moretti se défend de tout lien avec le dossier |language=fr |trans-title=Corruption at the European Parliament: MEP Moretti denies any connection to dossier |date=12 December 2022 |work=[[Le Soir]]}}</ref>
<ref name="POLITICOFIVE">{{cite news |date=12 December 2022 |title=Global Insider- Qatargate floods the EU |newspaper=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-insider/2022/12/12/qatargate-floods-the-eu-00073459|access-date=12 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name="POLITICOSIX">{{cite news |date=12 December 2022 |title=EU standards chief calls for tougher lobbying rules amid Qatar scandal |newspaper=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-ombudsman-emily-oreilly-calls-for-ethics-rules-revamp-qatar-lobbying-scandal-erupts-eva-kaili-european-parliament/|access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name="POLITICOSEVEN">{{cite news |date=11 December 2022 |title=Big names bail from NGO caught up in EU Parliament graft scandal |newspaper=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/big-names-bail-from-ngo-caught-up-in-eu-parliament-graft-scandal/|access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name="POLITICOLIVE">{{cite news |date=13 December 2022 |title=Live blog: Qatar scandal, Day 5 |newspaper=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/corruption-european-parliament-qatar-live-blog/|access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name="EA">{{cite news |date=12 December 2022 |title=EU Parliament suspends work with Qatar as MEPs demand corruption probe |newspaper=[[EurActiv]] |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-parliament-suspends-work-with-qatar-as-meps-demand-corruption-probe/|access-date=12 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name="BT">{{cite news |date=11 December 2022 |title=Qatar corruption scandal: European Parliament Vice-President Eva Kaili suspended |newspaper=[[Brussels Times]] |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/eu-affairs/335682/qatar-corruption-scandal-european-parliament-vice-president-eva-kaili-suspended|access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name="BTONE">{{cite news |date=13 December 2022 |title=Qatar corruption scandal: MEP Eva Kaili removed as Vice-President of EU Parliament |newspaper=[[Brussels Times]] |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/336605/qatar-corruption-scandal-mep-eva-kaili-suspended-as-vice-president-of-eu-parliament|access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name="LESOIRTHREE">{{cite news |date=13 December 2022 |title=Scandale de corruption européen: plus d'1,5 million d'euros cash saisi chez Panzeri et Kaili (photo) |newspaper=[[Le Soir]] |url=https://www.lesoir.be/482768/article/2022-12-13/scandale-de-corruption-europeen-plus-d15-million-deuros-cash-saisi-chez-panzeri|access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name="TIMEMAG">{{cite news |date=13 December 2022 |title=The Qatar Corruption Scandal Is Rocking the European Parliament |newspaper=[[TIME Magazine]] |url=https://time.com/6240539/eva-kaili-european-union-eu-corruption/|access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name="Soir">{{Cite web |date=11 December 2022 |title=La vice-présidente du Parlement européen Eva Kaili écrouée pour corruption, Luca Visentini libéré sous conditions |url=https://www.lesoir.be/482400/article/2022-12-11/la-vice-presidente-du-parlement-europeen-eva-kaili-ecrouee-pour-corruption-luca |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=[[Le Soir]] |language=fr}}</ref>
<ref name="POLITICOprison">{{Cite web |date=13 December 2022 |title=Prison strike pushes Eva Kaili's court session to Dec. 22 |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/prison-strike-pushes-eva-kaili-qatar-corruption-court-session-to-dec-22/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=[[Politico]] |language=EN}}</ref>
<ref name="ElPais">{{cite news |last= AYUSO|first= SILVIA|date=14 December 2022 |title='Qatargate': the keys to the scandal rocking the European Parliament |url=https://english.elpais.com/international/2022-12-13/qatargate-the-keys-to-the-scandal-that-rocked-the-european-parliament.html |work=[[El Pais]] |location= Strasbourg |access-date=14 December 2022}}</ref>
<ref name="TVP">{{Cite web |date=14 December 2022 |title=Prison strike pushes Eva Kaili's court session to Dec. 22 |url=https://tvpworld.com/65092185/former-italian-mep-had-received-gifts-from-moroccos-ambassador-to-poland-media |access-date=14 December 2022 |website=[[TVP World]] |language=EN}}</ref>
}}

[[Category:2022 in Europe]]
[[Category:2022 in international relations]]
[[Category:2022 scandals]]
[[Category:2022 in Qatar]]
[[Category:December 2022 events in Asia]]
[[Category:December 2022 events in Europe]]
[[Category:European Parliament]]
[[Category:Political scandals]]
[[Category:Qatar–European Union relations]]
[[Category:Corruption in Europe]]
[[Category:2022 in Belgium]]
[[Category:2022 in Greece]]
[[Category:2022 in Italy]]

Katar-Korruptionsskandal im Europäischen Parlament

2022-12-25T13:34:19Z

95.132.106.231: /* References */

Transair-Flug 810

2022-12-24T13:28:31Z

95.132.106.231: /* External links */

{{short description|2021 aircraft crash in Hawaii}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| image = File:Forward Fuselage Transair 810.png
| image_upright = 1.2
| alt =
| caption = Forward [[fuselage]] of the 737 found on the [[seabed]] a week after the crash
| occurrence_type = Accident
| date = {{start date|2021|7|2}}
| summary = [[Ditched]] after engines failed; under investigation
| site = [[Māmala Bay]], [[Oahu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|21.275|-158.026|type:event|display = inline,title}}
| aircraft_type = [[Boeing 737-200|Boeing 737-275C]]<ref group=Note name=Note01/>
| operator = [[Trans Executive Airlines|Rhoades Aviation]]
| callsign = RHOADES EXPRESS 810
| tail_number = N810TA
| origin = [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport]]
| destination = [[Kahului Airport]]
| occupants = 2
| fatalities = 0
| injuries = 2
| survivors = 2
}}

'''Transair Flight 810''', a [[Boeing 737-200]] [[Cargo aircraft|converted freighter aircraft]] on a short cargo flight en route from [[Honolulu International Airport]] to [[Kahului Airport]] on the neighboring Hawaiian island of [[Maui]], experienced mechanical difficulties and crashed shortly after takeoff in the early morning of July 2, 2021.

The twin-engined plane was owned and operated by [[Trans Executive Airlines|Rhoades Aviation]] under the Transair [[trade name]], and had a crew of two. Both [[Pratt & Whitney JT8D]] [[turbofan]]s faltered shortly after takeoff. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilots [[water landing|ditched]] off the coast of [[Oahu]] about 11 minutes into the flight.

The pair were rescued about an hour after the crash in a coordinated inter-agency response involving multiple aircraft and boats. Both were hospitalized for serious injuries and later released. The wreckage was located the following week at depths up to {{convert|420|ft|m|-1}} {{convert|2|mi|km|0}} off [[Ewa Beach]].

The [[Federal Aviation Administration]] and [[National Transportation Safety Board]] immediately began investigating. Transair voluntarily withdrew its four remaining 737s from service for a week-long internal review. Transair resumed flying their one operational 737-200 a week later, but had to cease 737 operations a week after that due to deficiencies identified by the FAA prior to the ditching.

==Flight==

On July 2, 2021, at 1:33 a.m. [[Hawaii–Aleutian Time Zone|HST]], the aircraft began its take-off from [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport]] (HNL) just west of [[Honolulu]] on the southern coast of [[Oahu]].<ref name="Wallace, Murphy & Andone 2021">{{Cite news |last1=Wallace |first1=Gregory |last2=Murphy |first2=Paul P. |last3=Andone |first3=Dakin |date=July 2, 2021 |title=A Boeing 737 cargo plane makes emergency landing in the water near Honolulu |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/02/us/cargo-plane-down-hawaii/index.html |access-date=July 2, 2021|quote=The plane went down approximately two nautical miles south of Kalaeloa, Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew West of the US Coast Guard District 14 Hawaii Pacific told CNN.}}</ref> At around 1:42 a.m., after [[air traffic control]] had cleared the flight to climb to 13,000 feet, the pilots informed Honolulu tower that the aircraft had "lost an engine."<ref name="Flightglobal 2021">{{cite web | last=Kaminski-Morrow | first=David | title=Transair 737-200 crash crew believed both engines were failing | website=[[FlightGlobal]] | date=July 3, 2021 | url=https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/transair-737-200-crash-crew-believed-both-engines-were-failing/144442.article | access-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref> Publicly available flight data show the aircraft had only climbed to around 2,100 feet (640 meters).<ref name="Bloomberg 2021">{{cite news | first1=Alan |last1=Levin|first2=Siddharth Vikram |last2=Philip|first3=Julie |last3=Johnsson|first4=Ryan |last4=Beene| title='Let the Coast Guard Know': Cargo Jet Ditches, Triggering Rescue | work=Bloomberg | date=July 2, 2021 | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-02/boeing-737-cargo-jet-makes-emergency-landing-off-hawaii-faa | access-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref>

The tower controller offered an immediate return for landing, but the crew instead requested delay vectors to run a checklist.<ref name="Flightglobal 2021"/> They continued on a southwest heading, away from the airport.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2, 2021 |title=Audio of radio traffic between air traffic controller in Honolulu tower and Transair Flight 810 |url=https://archive.liveatc.net/phnl/PHNL1-Twr-Jul-02-2021-1130Z.mp3 |access-date=July 2, 2021 |website=LiveATC.net}}</ref> At around 1:46 a.m., the crew reported that the second engine had overheated, and they could not maintain altitude.

After turning back toward Honolulu, the aircraft continued to lose altitude, so the controller issued a low-altitude alert and asked if they wanted to go to the closer [[Kalaeloa Airport]] instead. "We'd like the closest airport runway, please" was one of the last transmissions recorded from the aircraft.<ref name="Flightglobal 2021"/> The plane went down on the water of [[Māmala Bay]] about {{Convert|2|mi|km|0}} short of Kalaeloa Airport.<ref name="Wallace, Murphy & Andone 2021" /><ref name=HNN>{{Cite news|date=July 2, 2021|title=Boeing 737 cargo plane crashes off West Oahu with 2 on board|website=Hawaii News Now|url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/07/02/dot-cargo-plane-crashes-off-kalaeloa-with-2-board/|access-date=July 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702145207/https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/07/02/dot-cargo-plane-crashes-off-kalaeloa-with-2-board/|archive-date=July 2, 2021|quote=The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating after a cargo plane crashed in waters off West Oahu with two people on board. It happened around 1:45 a.m., about two miles off Kalaeloa Airport, according to the state Department of Transportation.}}</ref>
{{clear-left}}

==Emergency response==
A [[United States Coast Guard]] helicopter rescued one pilot and an [[Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting]] (ARFF) boat rescued the other.<ref name="Parkhomchuk 2021"/> They were the only two people aboard. Both were taken to [[The Queen's Medical Center]] about {{convert|20|mi|km|0}} away.<ref name="U.S. Coast Guard 2021">{{cite web | title=Video available: Coast Guard, partners rescue 2 people from downed aircraft off Oahu | website=U.S. Coast Guard | date=July 2, 2021 | url=https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/2e69d6a | access-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref> The 58-year-old survivor was hospitalized in critical condition; the 50-year-old survivor had a head injury and multiple lacerations and was hospitalized in serious condition.<ref name="Shapiro & Stone 2021">{{Cite news|last1=Shapiro|first1=Emily|last2=Stone|first2=Alex|date=July 2, 2021|title=2 pilots alive after plane crashes few miles off coast of Hawaii|work=[[ABC News]]|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/pilots-alive-plane-crashes-miles-off-coast-hawaii/story?id=78604621|access-date=July 2, 2021}}</ref> Both men were released from the hospital within a few days.<ref name="https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com 2021b">{{cite news | title=NTSB to survey debris field of cargo plane crash off Kalaeloa | work=[[Hawaii News Now]] | date=July 5, 2021 | url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/07/05/source-pilot-critically-injured-cargo-plane-crash-off-kalaeloa-released-hospital/ | access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref>

===Rescue coordination===
U.S. Coast Guard Joint [[Rescue Coordination Center]] Honolulu [[watchstander]]s received a report from [[Honolulu Control Facility|Honolulu Air Traffic Control]] of a downed Boeing 737 offshore. In response, the Coast Guard issued a [[notice to mariners]], launched a [[Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin]] helicopter and [[HC-130 Hercules]] airplane from [[Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point]] (co-located at the Kalaeloa Airport), sent out a 45-foot [[Response Boat – Medium]] crew, and diverted the cutter [[USCGC Joseph Gerczak|''Joseph Gerczak'']].<ref name="U.S. Coast Guard 2021"/> In addition to the Coast Guard, multiple other agencies deployed, including Emergency Medical Services.<ref name="hawaiinewsnow.com 2021c">{{cite news | title=2 pilots rescued after Boeing 737 cargo plane crashes in water shortly after takeoff from Honolulu | work=[[Hawaii News Now]]| date=July 2, 2021 | url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/07/02/boeing-737-cargo-plane-crashes-off-west-oahu-with-2-board/ | access-date=July 7, 2021}}</ref> The [[Hawaii Department of Transportation]]’s ARFF boat based at the Honolulu International Airport also responded and took approximately 30 to 40 minutes to get to the scene after navigating through a mile-wide debris field.<ref name="Bernardo 2021">{{cite news | last=Bernardo | first=Rosemarie | title=Cargo plane crashes off Oahu; 2 injured pilots rescued | work=[[Honolulu Star-Advertiser]] | date=July 2, 2021 | url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/07/02/breaking-news/cargo-plane-crashes-in-waters-off-oahu-2-injured-pilots-rescued/ | access-date=July 7, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet| number=1411020552903434240|user=@DOTHawaii|title=Mahalo to Aircraft Rescue Firefighters Terrence Kashima, Raymond Vegas Jr., and Steward Lee (R to L) for their water rescue in response to the downed aircraft off Kalaeloa early this morning. We're glad you're always ready! #ARFF (MT Steward Lee should be Stuart Lee. Our apologies.)|author=Hawaii DOT}}[https://twitter.com/DOTHawaii/status/1411020552903434240 1411020552903434240]</ref> A Coast Guard press release quoted a watchstander saying, "Our crews often train closely with our counterparts{{Nbsp}}... That training paid off and we were able to quickly deploy response assets to the scene and recover the two people aboard the aircraft."<ref name="U.S. Coast Guard 2021"/>

[[File:Transair Flight 810 USCG rescue.webm|thumbtime=30|thumb|400px|Coast Guard [[night vision]] video showing rescue of two pilots. Thumbnail shows [[rescue swimmer]] being hoisted aboard helicopter]]

===On scene===
Around 2:30 a.m., the Coast Guard helicopter located a fuel slick and wreckage.<ref name="Shepardson & Ajmera 2021">{{Cite news |last1=Shepardson |first1=David |last2=Ajmera |first2=Ankit |date=July 2, 2021 |title=Boeing 737 cargo plane makes emergency water landing off Hawaii |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/boeing-737-cargo-plane-water-off-honolulu-cnbc-2021-07-02/ |access-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref> The helicopter crew radioed to the same tower controller who last spoke to Flight 810 about 45 minutes earlier, "We do have an aircraft in the water. We're currently overhead [the] debris field", then called a few minutes later to report, "We have zero, two souls in sight in the water." The controller responded: "Okay, so you have both guys, both souls in sight?" to which they replied, "Both souls in sight, yes, sir."<ref name="abc.net.au">{{Cite news|date=July 3, 2021|title='It doesn't look good out here': Air traffic control communications reveal what pilots said as they crashed into Pacific Ocean|work=[[ABC News (Australian TV channel)|ABC News]]|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-04/pilot-minutes-before-ocean-crash-it-doesn-t-look-good-/100266156|access-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref>

When the Coast Guard helicopter arrived on the scene, only about {{Convert|2|mi|km|0}} from their air station,<ref name="Wallace, Murphy & Andone 2021" /><ref name=HNN/> one survivor was on the vertical tail of the aircraft (the only part of the aircraft that could still be seen floating above the waves) while a second one was in the water floating on a bed of cargo soaked in jet fuel.<ref name ="Fujimori 2021"/><ref name="KHON2 pt2"/> Both pilots had escaped through the cockpit windows.<ref>(October 9, 2021).[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPZ2-sPri5U NTSB Media Briefing for TransAir Recovery Operation]. Retrieved October 1, 2021.</ref> The helicopter crew planned to rescue the survivor already in the water first but changed that plan when the tail section rapidly sank, leaving the other survivor struggling to swim. The aircrew lowered a [[rescue swimmer]], who put the survivor in the rescue strop, and they were both lifted on board the helicopter.<ref name="Bloomberg 2021z">{{cite news | first1= Alan | last1= Levin | first2= Julie | last2= Johnsson | first3= Ryan |last3= Beene | title='They Went Down': How Boeing 737 Pilots Survived Hawaii Ditching | publisher=Bloomberg | date=July 2, 2021 | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-02/-they-went-down-how-boeing-737-pilots-survived-hawaii-ditching | access-date=July 5, 2021 | quote = The rescuers initially focused on the pilot clinging to the packages, said (Lieutenant Gleb) Borovok and Lieutenant Alex Mead, who flew the chopper. But then the tail of the aircraft started to sink, thrusting the man who had been perched there into the water. The helicopter deployed a swimmer and hoisted the Transair pilot aboard.}}</ref> That survivor was reported to be at the point of exhaustion and not fully responsive when he was assessed on board the helicopter.<ref name="hawaiinewsnow.com">{{cite news | title=WATCH: Coast Guard video shows dramatic rescue of pilots after cargo plane crash | work=[[Hawaii News Now]] | date=July 2, 2021 | url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/07/02/watch-coast-guard-releases-video-cargo-plane-crash-rescue-off-oahu/ | access-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref>

The helicopter then brought the rescue swimmer to assist the other survivor.<ref name="DVIDS 2021">{{cite web | title=Coast Guard, partners rescue 2 people from downed aircraft off Oahu | author = [[United States Coast Guard]] | publisher = [[Defense Visual Information Distribution Service]] | date=July 2, 2021 | url=https://www.dvidshub.net/video/805809/coast-guard-partners-rescue-2-people-downed-aircraft-off-oahu | access-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref><ref name="KHON2 pt2">{{cite web |title=Interview: KHON2 speaks with USCG crew who rescue pilots from downed cargo plane PT. 2 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZJPRAkyIRw |website=YouTube |access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> He was lifted on board the ARFF rescue boat, and later transferred to an ambulance on shore when the boat returned to the airport in Honolulu.<ref name ="Bernardo 2021"/><ref name="Parkhomchuk 2021">{{Cite news |last=Parkhomchuk |first=Mariya |date=July 2, 2021 |title=Pilots in critical, serious conditions after plane goes down near West Oahu |work=[[KHON-TV]] |url=https://www.khon2.com/local-news/pilots-in-critical-serious-conditions-after-plane-goes-down-near-west-oahu/ |access-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref> The survivor recovered first was flown directly to the hospital once the helicopter crew recovered its rescue swimmer.<ref name="Boneza 2021">{{Cite news|last=Boneza|first=Jenn|date=July 3, 2021|title=Cargo plane crashes in the ocean off Honolulu, two pilots rescued|work=[[KHON-TV]]|url=https://www.khon2.com/local-news/cargo-plane-crashes-in-the-ocean-off-honolulu-two-pilots-rescued/|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref>

At the time of the rescue, there were winds of {{convert|17|mph|kph|0}} and seas up to {{convert|5|feet|m}}.<ref name="U.S. Coast Guard 2021" />

== Aircraft ==
[[File:N810TA at Tainan Airport.jpg|N810TA in May 2019, after its full [[cargo aircraft|freighter]] conversion|thumb]]
The aircraft involved was a 45-year-old first-generation [[Boeing 737-200]]. From 1968 to 1988, Boeing built 1,095 of the 737-200 type,<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 7, 2020|title=The Boeing 737: The Original vs MAX - What's The Difference?|url=https://simpleflying.com/boeing-737-original-vs-max/|access-date=July 4, 2021|website=Simple Flying|language=en-US}}</ref> but by 2021, fewer than 60 were still flying worldwide.<ref name= "abc.net.au"/> Scheduled passenger service using 737-200s largely ended in 2008 with the closure of [[Aloha Airlines]] (also based in Honolulu) but a few remained in passenger service through 2020.<ref name="Team 2020">{{cite web | title=9 Oldest Commercial Passenger Planes in Service | website=Aero Corner | date=December 11, 2020 | url=https://aerocorner.com/blog/oldest-commercial-passenger-planes/ | access-date=July 8, 2021|quote=4. Boeing 737-200 of Air Inuit – 1979; 3. Boeing 737-200 of Venezolana – 1978; 2. Boeing 747-200 of Caspian Airlines – 1978; 1. Boeing 737-200 (G-GNLK) of Nolinor Aviation – 1974.}}</ref>

[[File:Untitled (Royal Airlines Cargo) Boeing 737-200C; C-GDPW, August 1998 CGS (6351370560).jpg|thumb|left|C-GDPW in August 1998 in freight service in "[[Combi aircraft|combi]]" configuration<ref group=Note name=Note02/>]]
This 737-275C Adv.<ref group=Note name=Note01/> [[combi aircraft]] was built for [[Pacific Western Airlines]], delivered on October 10, 1975, and originally registered in Canada as C-GDPW.<ref name="aviation-safety">{{Cite web|last=Ranter|first=Harro|title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-275C Adv. N810TA Honolulu-Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, HI (HNL)|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20210702-0|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2021|website=aviation-safety.net|publisher=[[Aviation Safety Network]]}}</ref><ref name="airfleets">{{Cite web|title=Trans Air N810TA (Boeing 737 - MSN 21116) (Ex 9M-PML C-GDPW) | url=https://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737-21116.htm|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2021|website=www.airfleets.net|publisher=Airfleets aviation}}</ref> The aircraft was eventually taken out of passenger service, and later converted to a full [[Cargo aircraft|freighter]]. In 1999 the converted airframe was re-registered to [[Raya Airways|Transmile]] as 9M-PML in Malaysia until it was then re-registered by Transair in the U.S. as N810TA in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title=N810TA Rhoades Aviation Inc Boeing 737-275C, MSN 21116|url=https://onespotter.com/aircraft/fid/137872/N810TA|url-status=live|access-date=July 4, 2021|website=OneSpotter.com {{!}} Plane Spotting, Photography, Aircraft Database}}</ref> It was one of five Boeing 737s in Rhoades Aviation Inc's Transair fleet.<ref name="Shepardson & Ajmera 2021" />

===Engines===
[[File:Inlet Case Transair 810.png|thumb|A [[Pratt & Whitney JT8D|JT8D]] engine inlet [[turbofan|fan case]] on the [[seabed]] a week after the ditching]]
First-generation 737s were powered by two [[Pratt & Whitney JT8D|Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9A]]<ref name="FAA Registry">{{Cite web |title=Registry for N810TA |url=https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N810TA |url-status=live |access-date=July 2, 2021 |website=[[Federal Aviation Administration]]}}</ref> engines, originally designed for the [[Boeing 727]] around 1960. Pratt & Whitney produced more than 14,000 of these engines before regular production ended in 1985. The company continued actively supplying parts and overhauling engines through 2021 when roughly 2,000 were still in use.<ref name="Bloomberg 2021"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pratt & Whitney's JT8D Engine Turns Half a Century Old|url=https://newsroom.prattwhitney.com/2014-02-10-Pratt-Whitneys-JT8D-Engine-Turns-Half-a-Century-Old|access-date=July 7, 2021|website=MediaRoom|publisher=[[Pratt & Whitney]]|quote=More than 14,750 JT8D engines have been built, accumulating more than half a billion hours of service. At one point, JT8D engine sales and service contributed about half of United Technologies' profits. Today, it continues to generate revenue through overhauls, spare parts sales and kits to make it quieter and cleaner burning.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=JT8D|url=https://prattwhitney.com/products-and-services/products/commercial-engines/jt8d|access-date=July 7, 2021|publisher=[[Pratt & Whitney]]|quote=The JT8D engine has proven itself to be a highly durable and reliable engine, having completed more than 673 million dependable flying hours since entering service. Once deemed the workhorse of the industry, more than 14,750 JT8D engines have flown. Today, there are 2,400 engines still in use.}}</ref> [[Mainline (aeronautics)|Mainline airline]] use of the JT8D continued until 2020 when [[Delta Airlines]] retired its [[McDonnell Douglas MD-80#MD-88|McDonnell Douglas MD-88]] fleet early due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=McMurtry |first=Ian |date=June 3, 2020|title=The JT8D Engine Roars into History Books as Delta Retires McDonnell Douglas Fleet |url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/06/03/the-jt8d-roars-in-the-history-books/|access-date=July 8, 2021|website=AirlineGeeks.com}}</ref>

The FAA's Service Difficulty Reports database shows the aircraft involved, N810TA, experienced #1 (left) engine failure on takeoff twice in recent years, but with different engines each time. In a 2018 failure, the engine had accumulated 23,657 hours total time and 35,753 total cycles, while in a 2019 failure the engine had 71,706 total hours and 67,194 total cycles.<ref name=AIN-17 />

== Investigation ==
[[File:E5ZYnFRUcAEh3sZ.jpg|thumb|left|A bed of cargo floating in the debris field the following day]]
The following day, [[USCGC Joseph Gerczak|USCGC ''Joseph Gerczak'']] completed collection of a small amount of incidental [[flotsam]] from the debris field to aid in the investigation.<ref>{{Cite tweet| title=Update: The @USCG is assisting the @NTSB during their investigation into the incident involving a downed cargo plane off Oahu Saturday. The Coast Guard continues to work with our partners during the salvage operation and environmental response. |user=USCGHawaiiPac |number=1411413535423451137|access-date=July 11, 2021}}</ref> The NTSB examined the retrieved items, described as mostly general cargo.<ref name = "Fujimori 2021"/>

In an initial statement, the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) said, "The pilots had reported engine trouble and were attempting to return to Honolulu when they were forced to land the aircraft in the water{{Nbsp}}... The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate."<ref name="Wallace, Murphy & Andone 2021"/><ref>{{Cite news|last=Pallini|first=Natalie Musumeci, Thomas|title=Cargo plane makes emergency landing in ocean near Honolulu|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/cargo-plane-emergency-landing-ocean-honolulu-hawaii-2021-7|access-date=July 9, 2021|work=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref> The FAA would not comment on its current investigation, but a local investigative reporter for [[KHON-TV]] found more than a dozen FAA enforcement actions against Rhoades Aviation and Trans Executive Airlines of Hawaii (doing business as Transair), with fines that totaled over $200,000 over 25 years.<ref name="Mangieri 2021">{{cite news | last=Mangieri | first=Gina | title=Transair FAA penalties span decades; no US mail in crashed plane | publisher=[[KHON2]] | date=July 7, 2021 | url=https://www.khon2.com/always-investigating/transair-faa-penalties-span-decades-no-us-mail-in-crashed-plane/ | access-date=July 7, 2021}}</ref> A company representative declined to comment because they are a party to the ongoing NTSB investigation, but a former FAA Chief Counsel published critical commentary on the reporting, cautioning against drawing premature conclusions from potentially unrelated historical enforcement actions.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Sandy |last=Murdock|date=July 8, 2021|title=Enforcement Records may not tell the full story about cargo crash in Hawai'i|url=http://jdasolutions.aero/blog/enforcement-records-may-not-tell-the-full-story-about-cargo-crash-in-hawaii/|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=JDA Journal|publisher = JDA Aviation Technology Solutions }}</ref>

"Transair has voluntarily chosen not to operate our Boeing 737 cargo aircraft temporarily while we assess the situation and continue to cooperate with federal authorities in their investigation", a Transair spokesman said in a statement the following day.<ref name="Fujimori 2021">{{cite news | last=Fujimori | first=Leila | title=Search is underway for cause of cargo plane crash off Kalaeloa | work=[[Honolulu Star-Advertiser]] | date=July 4, 2021 | url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/07/04/hawaii-news/search-is-underway-for-cause-of-crash/ | access-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref> Transair has a contract to carry mail between the Hawaiian Islands, but the [[United States Postal Service]] said no mail was aboard this flight. They had made alternate arrangements after Transair grounded its 737s.<ref name="Mangieri 2021"/> Transair resumed 737-200 operations a week later.<ref>{{Cite web|title=T4809 (RDS809) Transair Flight Tracking and History 09-Jul-2021 (PHNL-OGG / PHOG)|url=http://flightaware.com/live/flight/RDS809/history/20210709/1600Z/PHNL/PHOG|access-date=July 10, 2021|website=FlightAware|quote=Friday 09-Jul-2021 06:19AM HST Daniel K Inouye Intl - HNL 06:42AM HST Kahului - OGG B732 0h 23m}}</ref> But in less than a week, Rhoades Aviation lost its FAA inspection authorization at midnight on July 15, after failing to ask for reconsideration of a June 13 notice of deficiencies identified during an ongoing FAA investigation that began in 2020. This effectively grounded Rhoades's fleet of 737-200s, which only included one remaining operational aircraft at the time. The FAA said the grounding was not a direct result of the ditching.<ref name=KHON-16>{{Cite news|date=July 16, 2021|title=FAA orders Transair to stop jet flights, citing 'deficiencies' in maintenance, safety practices|url=https://www.khon2.com/always-investigating/faa-orders-transair-to-stop-all-flights-citing-deficiencies-in-maintenance-safety-practices/|access-date=July 18, 2021|work=[[KHON-TV]]}}</ref><ref name=Levin-16>{{Cite news |first=Alan| last=Levin| title=Cargo Airline Was Being Investigated Before Crash off Hawaii|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-16/hawaii-cargo-airline-involved-in-july-2-crash-grounded-by-faa|access-date=July 18, 2021|date=July 16, 2021|work=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref><ref name=AIN-17>{{Cite news| first=Colleen| last=Mondor| title= FAA Halts Operation of Rhoades Aviation/Transair |work=Aviation International News|url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2021-07-17/faa-halts-operation-rhoades-aviation-transair|date=July 17, 2021|access-date=July 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name=AWN>{{Cite news|title=Transair Operator Rhoades Aviation Loses FAA Inspection Authority|url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/safety-ops-regulation/transair-operator-rhoades-aviation-loses-faa-inspection|date=July 16, 2021|access-date=July 18, 2021|work=[[Aviation Week]] Network}}</ref>

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) originally announced it was sending seven investigators immediately after the ditching, but updated that to say they were deploying a relatively large ten-investigator team to Oahu.<ref name="Wallace, Murphy & Andone 2021"/> Two investigators arrived later that day and began on-scene coordination,<ref name="https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com 2021">{{cite news | title=NTSB, Coast Guard investigate crash of Boeing 737 cargo plane off Oahu | work=[[Hawaii News Now]] | date=July 2, 2021 | url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/07/02/boeing-737-cargo-plane-that-crashed-off-oahu-was-operated-by-all-cargo-fleet/ | access-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref> and the rest arrived by the next day. Team specialties included air traffic control, systems, maintenance records, human performance, operations, powerplants, and wreckage recovery.<ref>{{Cite tweet| title= Team specialties include air traffic control, systems, maintenance records, human performance, operations, powerplants & structures/wreckage recovery. | user = ntsb_newsroom | number = 1411077007333601281|access-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref>

The NTSB also announced that the manufacturers of the airframe and the engines, [[Boeing]] and [[Pratt & Whitney]] respectively, would be among the parties to the investigation.<ref name="NTSB July 5 press release">{{Cite web|date=July 5, 2021|title=Update: NTSB Investigation of Transair Flight 810 Crash Continues|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/mr20210705.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=|publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]}}</ref> The NTSB stated, "In general terms, NTSB investigators develop factual information in three areas: the people involved in an accident, the equipment involved in the accident and the environment in which the accident occurred."<ref name="NTSB July 5 press release"/>

{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| image1 = Aft Fuselage Transair 810.png
| caption1 = [[Fuselage]] center section and wings on the seabed a week after the incident
| image2 = TransAir 30OCT21 1.jpg
| caption2 = The same section being recovered almost four months later
}}
NTSB met with the parties to the investigation the following day, and said it would use [[side-scan sonar]] to locate and evaluate the wreckage prior to attempting to recover the "black box" [[flight recorder]]s.<ref name="Josephs 2021">{{cite news | last=Josephs | first=Leslie | title=NTSB to interview pilots, survey site of ditched 737 cargo plane off Hawaii coast | work=CNBC | date=July 5, 2021 | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/05/boeing-737-cargo-plane-prompts-ntsb-search-in-hawaii.html | access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> The wreckage was located the following week at depths between {{convert|360| -|420|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}}—below the depth where human divers could safely recover the flight recorders per the NTSB.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shepardson|first=David|title=Wreckage located of Boeing cargo jet that made emergency landing off Hawaii |url=https://www.metro.us/wreckage-located-of-boeing/|date=July 9, 2021|access-date=July 10, 2021|work=[[Metro US]]}}</ref>

The NTSB also sampled fuel from another aircraft and found no anomalies. By the end of the following week, the on-site "go-team" had completed collection of the perishable evidence, including interviews of more than a dozen key personnel, and returned home, but the flight recorders remained with the wreckage at the bottom of the sea.<ref name="KITV 2021">{{cite news | title=NTSB: Images from cargo plane wreckage released | work=[[KITV]] | date=July 9, 2021 | url=https://www.kitv.com/story/44277271/ntsb-images-from-cargo-plane-wreckage-released | access-date=July 11, 2021}}</ref>

Photos from a remotely-controlled SEAMOR Marine Chinook underwater vehicle showed that the fuselage broke ahead of the wing, with the nose section separated from the center section, but the inboard sections of both wings were still attached to the fuselage wing carry-through.<ref>{{Cite news|author= HNN Staff|title=NTSB releases first images of cargo plane wreckage in deep waters off Oahu|url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/07/10/ntsb-releases-first-images-cargo-plane-wreckage-deep-waters-off-oahu/|access-date=July 10, 2021|date=July 10, 2021|work=[[Hawaii News Now]]}}</ref>

On May 25, 2022, citing numerous safety violations found during its investigation, the FAA announced that it was revoking the airline's [[air operator's certificate]]. Among the cited violations were 33 flights undertaken with engines that were not [[airworthy]]. Rhoades was given until June 8 to appeal the agency's decision.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-proposes-pulling-certificate-after-737-ditching/ |title=FAA Proposes Pulling Certificate After 737 Ditching |last=Niles |first=Russ |date=May 26, 2022 |orig-date=May 25, 2022 |website=avweb.com |publisher=AVweb |access-date=May 26, 2022 |quote=The agency claims to have found hundreds of illegal flights and numerous violations.}}</ref>

On December 20, the NTSB released their investigation docket on the accident.<ref name="avherald">{{Cite web |last=Hradecky |first=Simon |date=2021-07-02 |title=Accident: Trans/Rhoades B732 at Honolulu on Jul 2nd 2021, ditched about 2nm out of Honolulu |url=https://avherald.com/h?article=4e9bbe04&opt=0 |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=avherald.com |publisher=[[The Aviation Herald]]}}</ref>

=== Recovery ===

The NTSB coordinated with the insurance company for Transair to begin an underwater recovery effort.<ref>{{cite news | last=Levin | first=Alan | title=Recovery of Hawaii Cargo Jet on Sea Floor Set to Begin in Fall | work=Bloomberg | date=August 19, 2021 | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-19/recovery-of-hawaii-cargo-jet-on-sea-floor-set-to-begin-in-fall | access-date=August 19, 2021}}</ref> Both engines, both fuselage sections, and cargo, were expected to be recovered, in an operation that was expected to begin on or about October 9, and last 10–14 days.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 30, 2021|title=NTSB Coordinating Recovery of Cargo Jet From Pacific Ocean|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20210930b.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=September 30, 2021|website=|publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=October 7, 2021|title=NTSB to Hold Media Briefing on Recovery of Cargo Jet From Pacific Ocean|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/MA20211007b.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=October 7, 2021|website=|publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]}}</ref> A research vessel, ''RV Bold Horizon'' ({{MMSI|303273000}}),[https://calcofi.org/field-work/calcofi-ships/rv-bold-horizon.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010012246/https://calcofi.org/field-work/calcofi-ships/rv-bold-horizon.html |date=October 10, 2021 }} with a 7,000 lb. [[remotely operated underwater vehicle]] (ROV) was used to raise the engines and rig each fuselage section for hoisting to the surface by a [[Crane vessel|derrick barge]] ''Salta Verde'' ({{MMSI|367507960}}) equipped with a crane.<ref>Associated Press staff (September 30, 2021). [https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/09/30/breaking-news/federal-crews-aim-to-recover-plane-that-ditched-off-oahu/ Federal crews aim to recover plane that ditched off Oahu]. ''[[Associated Press]]''. Retrieved October 1, 2021.</ref> The recovery is somewhat unusual in that the aircraft did not break up into small pieces.<ref>{{cite news | title=NTSB to begin efforts to remove sunken cargo plane that crashed in waters off Oahu | work=HawaiiNewsNow| date=October 9, 2021 | url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/10/09/watch-ntsb-detail-efforts-remove-sunken-cargo-plane-that-crashed-waters-off-oahu/ | access-date=October 9, 2021}}</ref> On November 2, the NTSB recovered both flight recorders as well as the aircraft's fuselage and engines.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-11-02|title=Flight Recorders and Wreckage of Cargo Jet Successfully Recovered from Pacific Ocean; Video and Photos Released|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/mr20211102.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-06|website=www.ntsb.gov|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Wolfsteller|first=Pilar|date=2021-11-02|title=PICTURES: NTSB recovers wreckage of Transair Boeing 737F that crashed off Hawaii|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/pictures-ntsb-recovers-wreckage-of-transair-boeing-737f-that-crashed-off-hawaii/146205.article|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-02|website=FlightGlobal}}</ref>

[[File:TransAir Flight 810 Recovery Operation.ogg|thumb|Video of the recovery operation by the NTSB.]]

{{clear left}}

==See also==
* [[US Airways Flight 1549]]: 2009 [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320]] water landing after dual engine failure caused by a [[bird strike]] during initial climb
* [[Garuda Indonesia Flight 421]]: 2002 [[Boeing 737-300]] forced landing in shallow water after both engines [[flameout|flamed out]] in hail and heavy rain
* [[Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961]]: 1996 ditching after dual engine failure caused by [[Fuel exhaustion]] during a [[Aircraft hijacking|hijacking]]
* [[ALM Flight 980]]: 1970 [[DC-9]] ditching after dual engine failure caused by fuel exhaustion after a diversion
* [[Aeroflot Flight 366]]: dual engine failure caused by fuel exhaustion after a diversion
* [[Pan Am Flight 6]]: 1956 ditching after dual engine failure on a four piston-engine airplane
* [[Tuninter Flight 1153]]: 2005 ditching caused by installation of an incorrect Fuel Quantity Indicator leading to [[fuel exhaustion]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note|refs=
<ref name=Note01>The ''2'' in the suffix denotes that it was a -200 series variant of the 737; ''75'' is the [[Boeing customer code]] for Pacific Western Airlines. The ''C'' in the model code designates that this aircraft was originally built as a 737-200 [[Combi aircraft|Combi]], a specialized model of the aircraft that was designed to carry both passengers and freight on the main deck of the aircraft, separated by a movable bulkhead. ''Adv'' stands for ''Advanced'', meaning it was a later variant with improved capacity and range over the original -200.</ref>
<ref name=Note02>Note the gravel deflector on the nose gear from the Boeing "Unpaved Strip Kit" ([[gravel kit]]), which were sometimes fitted to 737-200's in Canada.</ref>
}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{USGovernment|url=https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/2e69d6a|title=Coast Guard, partners rescue 2 people from downed aircraft off Oahu|agency=United States Coast Guard}}

{{NTSB}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Transair Flight 810}}
* {{YouTube|id=nZJPRAkyIRw0|title=An interview of 2 of the rescue helicopter crew members, including the rescue swimmer}}
* [https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103407 NTSB investigation docket]

{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 2021}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in the 2020s}}

[[Category:2021 in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 2021]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Boeing 737 Original]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving cargo aircraft]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Airliner accidents and incidents involving ditching]]
[[Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by engine failure]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 2021]]