The Navy has announced a $1.5 million plan to remove a surveillance plane that overshot a runway and crashed into Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii. The bay is not only home to coral reefs but also serves as a breeding ground for hammerhead sharks and houses a renowned University of Hawaii marine biology research institute. The salvage operation is estimated to cost around $1.5 million, with $200,000 already spent as of December, according to a Navy spokesperson who confirmed the figures to CBS News. The spokesperson further stated that more accurate figures will be available once the salvage operation is complete, emphasizing the Navy's focus on safely recovering the aircraft, protecting the environment, and preserving its combat capability.

To accomplish the delicate task of removing the aircraft from the ocean waters and the coral reef, the Navy plans to utilize inflatable cylinders. Rear Adm. Kevin Lenox, the commander of Carrier Strike Group 3 and the leader of the salvage effort, expressed confidence that the operation can be carried out without causing further damage to the reef. The P-8A surveillance plane crashed into Kaneohe Bay, located approximately 10 miles from Honolulu, when it overshot the runway at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Fortunately, none of the nine personnel on board were injured, but the Navy has initiated an investigation into the incident.

Underwater video footage released by the Navy on Wednesday revealed the landing gear wheels resting on crushed coral, while the majority of the plane floated above the reef. As part of the preliminary efforts, a Navy team has already removed nearly all of the estimated 2,000 gallons of fuel that was on board. Lenox expects the removal operation to commence on Saturday, although he refuses to commit to a specific timeline due to weather and other potential conditions that may affect progress.

The process involves sliding the inflatable bags under the plane, which will then float across the water towards the runway. Once on land, machines will pull and roll the bags onto and across the runway. Lenox assures that while there may be a possibility of the bags touching a small band of coral, this is not guaranteed. He explains that the force of the plane will be distributed evenly across the bags, resulting in only 3 to 5 pounds of pressure on any given point of contact with the ground. Lenox emphasizes that this pressure is significantly less than that exerted by a person standing on the ground, stating, "We have high confidence that we will be able to execute this whole thing with no further impact to the ecosystem here."

Upon the successful removal of the plane, Hawaii state officials will assess any potential damage caused to the reef. Kaneohe Bay not only supports coral reefs but also boasts a diverse range of marine life, including sharks, octopuses, and various species of fish. Additionally, the area is home to an ancient Hawaiian fishpond, which is currently undergoing restoration by community groups.

This salvage operation draws parallels to a prior successful endeavor in 2015, where contractors removed a 1,000-ton barge from sensitive seagrass habitat in the Outer Banks of North Carolina after Hurricane Florence. Despite the plane weighing about 60 tons, significantly less than the barge, Lenox believes that the inflatable cylinder option is safer and will have minimal to no impact on the coral reef, as well as no impact on the aircraft itself. He remains hopeful that the airplane, in good condition, can be restored to flying condition. The P-8A is a military version of a Boeing 737 jet and is primarily utilized for submarine searches, surveillance, and reconnaissance purposes. The specific plane involved in the incident belongs to Patrol Squadron 4, stationed at Whidbey Island in Washington state. Another crew from Whidbey Island has been deployed to Hawaii to continue the squadron's patrol missions in the region.