More than a week after a U.S. Navy surveillance plane overshot a runway in Hawaii and landed instead in an environmentally sensitive bay, new video footage shows tires from the large aircraft are resting on parts of a reef, officials said. The Navy released the footage on Wednesday as it works on developing a plan to remove the plane from the water. The plane, a P-8A Poseidon, had landed on November 20 in shallow water just offshore of Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay along the northeastern coast of the island of Oahu.

The underwater footage shows the "two points of contact the aircraft has with the coral and the remainder of the aircraft floating above," the Navy said. The video shows tires on the coral as tiny fish swim through rock crevices. A Navy team successfully removed nearly all of the estimated 2,000 gallons of fuel on the plane, reducing risks for the rest of the salvage operation. The Navy is now focusing on stabilizing the plane and developing a plan to move it.

Cmdr. Mark Anderson, who is leading the Navy's mobile diving and salvage unit at the site, stated that the plane is sitting on a mixture of coral and sand, with the left engine resting on coral. However, he assured that the full weight of the plane is not on the coral as it rises a little with the tide. While there may have been some minor damage to the coral, there do not appear to be any "massive chunks missing."

The situation has raised concerns about potential damage to the coral reef in Kaneohe Bay, which is home to coral reefs, an ancient Hawaiian fishpond, and a breeding ground for hammerhead sharks. Wayne Tanaka, the Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Hawaii, expressed his worry, stating that the video confirms that a jet plane is sitting on the coral reef, and it is unclear how much it has moved or could move.

State environmental officials are awaiting approval from the military to access the land, at which point they plan to conduct a damage assessment. However, no fines for environmental damages are expected to be issued as the overshot landing was deemed an accident.

The Navy has faced criticism in Hawaii for its environmental stewardship and transparency after a jet fuel leak from a World War II-era fuel storage facility contaminated Pearl Harbor's drinking water in 2021. As a result, 6,000 Navy personnel, their dependents, and civilians reported physical ailments. Following pressure, the Navy agreed to drain the tanks, an operation that is currently underway.

Rear Adm. Kevin Lenox said on Monday that the Navy has removed nearly all of the fuel from the plane but does not have a timetable for when it will be removed from the water. The Navy is considering two potential methods for moving the aircraft. One option is to float the plane and position it within the range of a crane set up on the runway, which would then lift it and set it down on its landing gear once on land. The other option involves floating the plane on top of cylinders and rolling it up onto the runway. Lenox emphasized that the Navy's priorities during this operation are the safety of the salvage crew, protecting the environment, and preserving the capability of the aircraft.

The Navy has placed three temporary floating barriers around the plane in its current location to prevent any potential fuel spill or other contaminants from polluting the ocean. The Navy has not received any indications or reports of fuel leakage from the plane. Additionally, the removed fuel was tested and found to be free of water, indicating the integrity of the plane's fuel system. The Navy has taken further precautions by placing material around the plane to absorb potential pollutants and provide early warning of petroleum spills. A skimmer is also on standby to remove any pollutants quickly.

On Thursday, sailors retrieved the data recorder and conducted a hydrographic survey to assess the plane's structural integrity. Lenox acknowledged the community's distrust toward the Navy and stated that he is striving to be transparent. In response to a request from the state of Hawaii's on-scene commander, the Navy installed a third temporary protective barrier around the plane.

The Navy uses the P-8A planes for submarine searches, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Manufactured by Boeing, the plane is a military version of the 737 passenger jet. The plane is assigned to Patrol Squadron 4 stationed at Whidbey Island in Washington state. The Navy has deployed another P-8A from Washington state to fulfill patrol duties while the incapacitated jet remains in Kaneohe Bay.

The cause of the overshot landing is still under investigation. Peter Forman, an aircraft expert, suggested that the combination of a shorter runway at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, winds, and bad weather may have played a role in the incident.

As the Navy works to address this situation, the focus remains on safely removing the plane, protecting the environment, and preserving the aircraft's capabilities. The damage assessment, once conducted, will provide further insight into the extent of any environmental impact.