A Hawaii veterinarian and his son were killed aboard the plane that crashed yesterday afternoon, family members confirmed today.

Nicholas Palumbo, 81, and his son Timothy, 20, died in the crash, according to a family member. Timothy was the youngest of eight children and was a senior at Kalani High School, said his aunt Julie Moody, who spoke to reporters today after the bodies were recovered.

“;The Palumbo family suffered a devastating loss,”; said Moody, the sister of Nicholas' widow, Sue.

The two were flying in a Piper Cherokee single-engine plane that crashed shortly before 2 p.m. at the 1,900 foot elevation near the Lanipo Trail above Maunalani Heights.

Fire crews recovered the body of one victim and brought it by helicopter at 10:47 a.m. today to the Honolulu Fire Department's command center at Waialae Iki Park near Kalani High School. The second body was brought out at about 12:15 p.m.

Moody said Nicholas was the pilot of the plane and had been flying for more than 60 years.

His son Charlie Palumbo posted a message last night on Facebook about the accident.

“;Thank you all for your kind words that you have shared with our family today,”; he wrote. “;My Dad and brother Tim will be greatly missed by many. They passed doing what they loved and together. We will hear more tomorrow but rest assured that they are with God tonight.”;

Crews were assessing the stability of the remains of the plane fuselage at the crash site. The plane wreckage was on a steep flank of the mountain, officials said.

Recovery efforts last night were called off due to darkness.

Police, fire and National Transportation Safety Board officials have opened investigations.

The plane, owned by Nicholas Palumbo, was returning to Honolulu from Lanai.

Sue Palumbo is also a veterinarian and operates the Cat Clinic on Kapahulu Avenue.