(BrightPress.org) – A Navy surveillance jet flying in rain and windy conditions overshot its landing on a Hawaiian runaway and ended up in Kaneohe Bay on Monday, November 21st. No injuries were reported among the crew of nine, according to authorities.
Initially, the Coast Guard sent rescue vehicles but they were quickly called back according to Petty Officer Ryan Fisher, their spokesman. He indicated that the crew rescue was handled by the Navy and they did not require further assistance.
Marine Corps spokesman Gunnery Sgt. Orlando Perez had no detailed information about what caused the accident.
The jet was a P-8A and it is typically used for reconnaissance, including locating enemy submarines. It’s of Boeing manufacture and shares parts with the commercially available 737. This particular jet was flown by the Skinny Dragons of Patrol Squadron 4, whose members rotate between Hawaii and Whidbey Island in Washington state.
Diane Dircks witnessed the jet floating in the bay and snapped a picture. Comparisons were made between this event and the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” when a passenger plane landed safely in the Hudson River after birds were caught in the engines causing them to fail. Every passenger and crew survived the crash, totaling 155 people.
Both the Navy spy plane and the A320 were of similar size.
Honolulu Fire Department got an emergency 911 call about an aircraft crashing around 2 p.m., according to their spokesman Malcolm Medrano. He said the weather was rainy and cloudy. Weatherman Thomas Vaughan told CBS that visibility was restricted to just 1 mile at the time.
Hawaii News Now quoted airplane enthusiast Peter Foreman who indicated that the runway is shorter than a normal runway and he also indicated the poor weather contributed to the accident.
Kahaluu resident Jonee Kaina was quoted by the press indicating her concern for the potential environmental damage caused by leaking jet fuel or other toxic chemicals.
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