A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon from Whidbey Island overshot the runway while attempting to land in Hawaii and ended up in the water, according to a statement sent by the United States Third Fleet.
The incident happened at about 2 p.m. Hawaiian time on Monday, Nov. 20. The plane was attempting to land at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, about 10 miles away from Honolulu, on O’ahu.
The crew is part of the VP-4 “Skinny Dragons” squadron, which is stationed on Whidbey Island. The nine crew members were unharmed and evacuated safely but went through a medical evaluation. A source familiar with the crew said some reported back pain.
P-8A Poseidons, according to the Naval Air Systems Command, are 129.5-foot-long Boeing aircraft used to locate submarines and collect data. The crew was on a detachment in support of maritime homeland defense, according to the statement.
First responders and emergency crews immediately took action and installed a temporary floating barrier to protect the environment from any fuel leaks, the statement says. The bay is home to coral reefs and creatures like Hawaiian green sea turtles and manta rays, among other creatures, according to the Hawaii Travel Guide.
According to the Associated Press, it was cloudy and rainy at the time of the accident, with a visibility of about 1 mile. However, Deputy Public Affairs Officer Mohammad N. Nissa, who sent the statement via email, said the cause of the accident is still unknown, but more information will be released as the investigation goes on.