Navy Surveillance Plane Overshoots Runway and Lands in Kaneohe Bay
A Navy surveillance plane flying in rainy weather overshot a runway Monday at a military base in Hawaii and splashed into Kaneohe Bay, but all nine aboard were uninjured, authorities said.
The Coast Guard responded, but rescue operations were quickly called off, said Petty Officer Ryan Fisher, a Coast Guard spokesperson. "It sounds like all parties involved were rescued," he said.
Marine Corps spokesperson Gunnery Sgt. Orlando Perez had no information about what caused the P-8A Poseidon aircraft to go off the runway at s.
A photo taken by witness Diane Dircks showed the plane in water just offshore, a sight reminiscent of the 2009 "Miracle on the Hudson" when a passenger jet piloted by Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger made an emergency landing on the New York river. All 155 people aboard survived.
The P-8A and the Airbus A320 that Sullenberger piloted are roughly the same size.
Dircks and her family had just returned to the dock after rainy weather cut their pontoon boat trip short when her daughter noticed the plane in the water.
"We went running over to the end of the dock, and I took some pictures," she said.
During her visit from Illinois, Dircks shared an unbelievable sight with her daughter. Using a pair of binoculars for birdwatching, they were able to witness a plane and rescue boats arriving.
The Honolulu Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a downed aircraft shortly after 2 p.m., according to spokesperson Malcolm K. Medrano. The incident occurred during cloudy and rainy weather, with visibility limited to about 1 mile, as reported by Thomas Vaughan, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Honolulu.
The P-8A aircraft is commonly used for submarine hunting, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering. Manufactured by Boeing, it shares many parts with the 737 commercial jet.
The aircraft is owned by the Skinny Dragons of Patrol Squadron 4, stationed at Whidbey Island in Washington state. Patrol squadrons now rotate deployments to Hawaii, although they were once based at Kaneohe Bay.
Marine Corps Base Hawaii is located about 10 miles from Honolulu on Oahu and is home to approximately 9,300 military personnel and 5,100 family members. It serves as one of the important military installations on the island.
Aircraft expert Peter Forman stated to Hawaii News Now that the base's runway is shorter and that bad weather and winds might have contributed to the incident.
"The pilot likely didn't land the plane exactly where intended on the runway," said Forman. "It's probably a combination of all these factors coming together."
Plane Crash Raises Concerns About Marine Life in Kaneohe Bay
The picturesque Kaneohe Bay, known for its coral reefs and as a breeding ground for hammerhead sharks, is now facing environmental concerns after a recent plane crash.
According to witnesses, the plane crash occurred near the University of Hawaii marine biology research institute, which is located in the bay. The crash resulted in the successful rescue of all passengers, but residents are now worried about the impact on the marine life in the area.
Jonee Kaina, a resident of Kahaluu, expressed her concerns about the potential damage caused by the plane crash. "I'm so glad that everyone was rescued and survived the crash," she said. "But I think someone needs to take a look at the impact the plane is doing to our marine life. There is jet fuel, anti-freeze, and other toxins that could harm the coral reefs and the sharks."
Environmental experts are now assessing the situation and working on a plan to mitigate any potential damage to the marine ecosystem. The University of Hawaii marine biology research institute is also closely monitoring the situation and providing assistance in the assessment process.
It is crucial to address these environmental concerns and ensure the long-term sustainability of Kaneohe Bay's marine life. Efforts must be made to clean up any pollutants and prevent further harm to the coral reefs and the shark population.
