Navy Divers Document, Survey Marine Environment Below Downed P-8A Aircraft

Navy Divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One (MDSU-1) conduct an underwater survey of a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The video, collected to document the marine environment on Nov. 28 between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. HST, depicts the two points of contact the aircraft has with the coral and the remainder of the aircraft floating above. The Navy is developing a plan to remove the aircraft that prioritizes safety of people (salvage workers), safety of the environment and restoring combat capability of the aircraft. The Navy is conducting a thorough investigation of the mishap to determine the cause and prevent similar mishaps in the future. The P-8A is assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 “Skinny Dragons,” based at Whidbey Island, Washington, and was on a detachment in support of maritime homeland defense. The aircraft overshot the runway at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe on Nov. 20, and all nine crewmembers safely evacuated.