US Navy Plane Overshoots Runway and Lands in Bay in Hawaii
US Navy Plane Overshoots Runway
A U.S. Navy plane overshot a runway and went into a bay in Hawaii on Monday, but all nine passengers aboard survived with no reported injuries. The incident took place at Marine Corps Base Hawaii on Kaneohe Bay.
No Injuries Reported
According to Shayne Enright, a spokesperson for the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Department, all nine people aboard the plane made it safely to shore without any injuries. Rescue operations were quickly called off by the Coast Guard, indicating that everyone had been rescued.
Cloudy and Raining Conditions
The incident occurred on a cloudy and rainy day. Thomas Vaughan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, stated that visibility was about 1 mile during the time of the crash. It is unclear whether the weather conditions played a role in the plane overshooting the runway.
P-8A Aircraft and Resembling the Miracle on the Hudson
The aircraft involved in the incident was a P-8A, commonly used for submarine hunting and reconnaissance. The P-8A plane shares many parts with the commercial Airbus A320. Witnesses captured photos of the plane floating just offshore, reminiscent of the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” when Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger successfully landed a commercial aircraft on the New York River, saving all 155 people aboard.
Water Landings and their Challenges
Water landings, also known as ditching, are uncommon in commercial aviation. The execution of such landings can be challenging due to factors like wave action and flooding. While overshot landings typically occur on land, where the plane sustains damage, there have been water landings without fatalities in the past.
The Risk of Landings
Landings are considered the most dangerous part of a plane journey, accounting for 49% of fatal plane accidents. Unlike during flight, there is limited time for pilots to course correct during landings, making them more critical. Bringing a plane to a stop on the ground is also more difficult than getting it airborne.
About Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Marine Corps Base Hawaii is located on Kaneohe Bay, about 10 miles from Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The base is home to thousands of military personnel and their families and is an important military installation.
Source: See a plane that landed in the water after it overshot the runway in Hawaii
