Damage Not as Bad As Feared, Thanks to Aircraft's Buoyancy

A $1.5 million salvage endeavor finally removed the P-8 Poseidon that sat in Hawaii's Kaneohe bay for weeks, allowing investigators to evaluate the extent of natural damage caused by the runway overshoot.

The Navy had previously purged all the fuel from the Poseidon, hoping to prevent any hazardous contamination of the delicate ecology of the bay. In order to remove the plane, the Navy placed a series of inflatables underneath to lift and roll it straight up, removing its landing gear straight upwards in the hopes of minimizing coral damage. The ecosystem is a highlight of the Hawaiian tourist industry, and damage is extremely slow to repair.

Rear Admiral Kevin Lenox said that their studies in the surrounding water showed no indication of an aircraft spill, reducing the overall outlay from the Navy and allowing locals to breathe just a bit easier. The aircraft was shown to be resting its gear on coral beds, but the majority of it remained floating above the water. Kim Fuller, an aquatic biologist with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, said divers are working to quantify the extent of the damage with their own surveys. They followed along the aircraft's path of travel with a series of dives, and feel they've largely seen the worst of it. They found that the primary impact area showed damage by the "anchors of containment booms", as well as overturned and scraped coral bodies.

No word yet on exactly what more the Navy will have to do in order to see the incident through, but it will likely be costly, as most of its Hawaiian accidents tend to be.

FMI: www.navy.mil