One other factor in common between the Brown and Fuddy deaths - aside from the single death among those on board the plane - is the effusive praise of the deceased from all those government officials who knew them.
Still can't say definitely if there was or wasn't foul play in the case of Fuddy until more info is available.
"There was nothing recognizable immediately as aircraft debris, just general debris in the water," U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Weston Red Elk said. "I'm not sure at what point the main body of the aircraft submerged, but it was not present when we got there."
Red Elk's team of rescue swimmers and pilots maneuvered two helicopters and an HC-130 airplane about 50 feet above the water, using the flares as a guide to locate two clusters of passengers, eventually rescuing them with Maui Fire personnel. One passenger swam the long distance to shore, the pilot and others went to hospitals with injuries that weren't serious. Only one passenger died.
As the rescue started, Rescue Swimmer Mark Peer said he lowered himself toward a man about 100 yards from the plane who looked to be in his 70s. As he swam to the passenger, the man wasn't panicking, Peer said.
A man swam a mile to shore through a six foot chop and there was no visible sign of the aircarft, but rescue swimmer Mark Peer lowered himself about a 100 yards from the plane...
Bye bye Loretta