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11 months ago
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Underwater footage shows the destruction a US military plane caused after it crashed into the sea and damaged endangered coral reef.
The US Navy P-8A was successfully recovered on Saturday after crew members spent 13 hours moving the aircraft.
An estimate $1.5million was spent on the extraction and a 'deceased sea turtle' was found at the site.
The military plane overshot the runway after it missed its mark on November 20 when it attempted to land at the US Marines base 10 miles away from Honolulu. Nine people who were onboard at the time were not physically harmed.
Following the crash, the massive military aircraft knocked off tops of coral and got its tires lodged in between them.
Kim Fuller, the Division of Aquatic Resources Biologist for the Department of Land and Natural Resources told Hawaii News Now that her team will overturn the now upside-down corals to 'give them a better chance of survival.'
Underwater footage captured the destruction from the US military plane that crashed into Hawaii's Kaneohe Bay on November 20
The impact of the US Navy P-8A managed to knock off the tops of endangered coral reefs and flip them upside down
Biologists have started to plan restoration efforts as they conducted their second site survey on Monday and plan to access the reef again on Tuesday.
Military officials have reported that no contaminants from the plane crash spilled into Kaneohe Bay- home to coral reefs and a range of marine life, like sharks, octopus and fish.
'I'm incredibly pleased with what has been accomplished. But more importantly, the way in which it was accomplished,' Marine Corps Base Commanding Officer Jeremy Beaven said in a press conference.
For two weeks it sat floating in the water before Navy contractors designed a complex inflatable and rope system to float it to the surface and remove it from the water.
On Thursday, a dead sea turtle was found 'floating between' two of the Navy barriers around the plane.
Rear Adm. Kevin P. Lenox, the salvage operation’s on-scene commander said: 'I have no information on the cause of death on that particular sea turtle. DLNR did report a sick sea turtle struggling in the vicinity yesterday, we suspect that may be related.
The plane sat floating in the water for two weeks before navy contractors designed a complex inflatable and rope system to extract it at a cost of $1.5million
Biologists have started to plan restoration efforts as they conducted their second site survey on Monday and plan to access the reef again on Tuesday
'Hawaiian Marine and Animal Recovery team has taken custody of that and they'll make an assessment and if necessary we will do a necropsy on that turtle to find out why it passed.'
It is unclear why the plane crashed while doing 'routine training.'
All of the nine on board safely managed to swim to shore and were left unharmed.
One expert speculated that bad weather and winds made it harder to land on the shorter than average runway at Kaneohe.
After the crash, local residents began warning about the risk to the local wildlife, which includes several endangered species.
The bay is also a breeding ground for hammerhead sharks and a feeding ground for whale sharks.
Following the crash, the massive military aircraft knocked off tops of coral and got its tires lodged in between them
At the time of the crash, nine crew members were on board. All of the passengers safely managed to swim to shore and were left unharmed
Kahaluu resident Jonee Kaina told Hawaii News Now: '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.'
The state of Hawaii said that it is 'unlikely' that they will fine the military for the crash.
The P-8A, a Poseidon reconnaissance plane used for intelligence, is manufactured by Boeing and shares many parts with the 737 commercial jet.
Marine Corps Base Kaneohe is home to over 25,000 Marines, sailors, family members and civilian employees.
English (US)