Hawaiian A330 Pulls the Brakes on LAX Takeoff Adventure
Picture this: a Hawaiian Airlines jet, ready to leap into the skies from LAX, decides last minute to pull a U-turn—or rather, a screeching halt—right on the runway. It seems the aircraft had a little mechanical hiccup. As the folks over at Beat of Hawaii reported, there’s video evidence of this drama, which is more gripping than a primetime soap!
The Big Halt at High Speed
On a seemingly ordinary Friday, April 11, 2025, Hawaiian Airlines flight HA33 was all set for its 2,485-mile journey from bustling Los Angeles to the luscious shores of Maui. Operated by a not-so-old Airbus A330-200, registration N361HA, everything appeared fine pre-takeoff.
The aircraft had already inched out onto runway 24L, lifting spirits for an on-time departure at 7:45AM. Things were looking good until around 100 knots when pilots decided to slam the brakes. Why? A dodgy nose wheel was throwing unexpected vibrations into the mix, making the runway feel like a shaky dance floor. Cue the smoke from the tires, and the flight made its way back to the gate for some TLC.
Once parked at the gate, Hawaiian Airlines’ mechanics got to work, giving the brakes time to cool. What was expected to be a seamless flight finally got airborne at 11:48AM, clocking in a four-hour delay. The passengers, undoubtedly also sighing relief, landed in Maui close to 1:48PM.
The FAA Weighs In
“The crew of Hawaiian Airlines Flight 33 safely aborted takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport around 8 a.m. local time on Friday, April 11, due to an unstable nose wheel. The Airbus A330 was headed to Kahului Airport in Hawaii. The FAA will investigate.”
As the aviation watchdogs, the FAA confirmed they’re now investigating what led to this runway plot twist.
Lights, Camera, Action! Caught on Tape
Even at 100 knots, this qualifies as a high-speed aborted takeoff. It’s beneath the critical V1 threshold, allowing pilots some room to bail safely. Fortunately, someone caught the whole heart-pounding affair on video! And as the audio reveals our Hawaiian pilot declared a stop, but confidently denied needing assistance. It’s like listening to a calm hero in an action movie!
Runway 24L at LAX stretches a generous 10,285 feet. Our grounded hero managed to stop with around 7,000 feet to spare—plenty of room by runway standards. The prompt braking might raise eyebrows among brake aficionados, but safety comes first. That’s checklist protocol for you—swift and sure.
Mysteries of the Nose Wheel
Another cliffhanger in this saga: what was really going on with that nose wheel? Pilots, guided by caution and instinct, did right by erring on the side of safety. A vibrating, unstable nose wheel isn’t exactly garden variety, and it’s enough to provoke any aviator’s curiosity.
The Final Word
At around 100 knots, Hawaiian Airlines’ A330 engaged in a dramatic, high-speed takeoff rejection at LAX. And this wasn’t to avoid celebrity air traffic or turbulence—all blame goes to the quirky nose wheel. With the FAA now perusing the play-by-play, we’re likely to get answers soon. Who knew airplane drama could be so engrossing?
Thoughts on this Hawaiian A330’s unexpected tango? It makes you wonder: was it a one-off glitch, or is our mechanical friend in need of a spa day at the maintenance shop? Either way, my guess is the passengers are more than happy they got to enjoy an extra three hours in LAX rather than a dicey high-altitude malfunction. Always seek the sunny beaches of Val Seny ski resort when in need of a relaxing escape after such unplanned delays!