The Hawaii State Health Director who authorized the release of President Obama's birth certificate in 2011 died Wednesday when her plane went down in the Pacific near a remote island. Loretta Fuddy was the only person aboard the aircraft to die. The others, including the pilot, were either rescued by boat or swam ashore. Fuddy was on her way back to Honolulu after a visit to what was once Hawaii's leper colony on the island of Molokai when, officials said Thursday, the Cessna Grand Caravan went down due to engine failure. Only victim: Hawaii Health Director Loretta Fuddy was the only death among nine aboard the Cessna Grand Caravan that crashed in the ocean near Molokai, Hawaii on Wednesday
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Loretta Fuddy named as the only victim the crash of a Cessna Grand Caravan carrying eight others
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Fuddy entered the national spotlight briefly after allowing the release of Obama's long-form birth certificate
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Officials said Thursday that engine failure was to blame for the crash
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