Jet collision with water at runway's end results in 5 individuals sustaining injuries
In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Aviation Administration has taken charge of an investigation following a small business jet's extraordinary journey off the runway in North Bend, Oregon, and into the water. This jet, a Honda-built HA-420, was en route from St. George, Utah to the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport when it unexpectedly veered off course around 6 a.m. local time on Monday.
The plane, known for its sleek design, skidded off the runway and found its resting place about 100 feet past the end of the runway, submerged in the water. Fortunately, the five individuals onboard - the pilot included - all ended up with only minor injuries. These injured parties were swiftly transported to a nearby hospital, as per the airport's official statement.
Initial reports suggest that the plane had received radio signals to guide its landing, but the pilot failed to notify controllers when they touched ground. This airport, interestingly, didn't have a staffed control tower active at that hour, so distant controllers reached out to the airport to check on the plane's status.
One controller inquired, "Just want to make sure they are on the ground," to which an airport worker replied, "That aircraft did not arrive at North Bend yet. I did hear them on the radio earlier ... but I don't see them on the ramp at all."
The runway was declared operational again around 10:30 a.m., post the removal of the plane from the water by a professional salvage company.
This unfortunate incident comes amidst increasing scrutiny of the HondaHA-420, with previous instances of runway excursions being reported. Some suggest these incidents are related to specific design characteristics or training techniques specific to this model. HondaJet owners are currently engaging in initiatives aimed at addressing these recurring issues by underscoring the importance of proper training and techniques tailored to the HA-420's unique design.
Investigations by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are ongoing, and further details regarding the cause of this incident are yet to be disclosed.
The Honda-built HA-420, previously involved in similar runway incidents, skidded off the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport runway early Monday morning, veering off course from its journey from St. Oregon Regional Airport. Though the plane's landing had received radio signals, the pilot failed to inform controllers upon landing, leading to a concern among controllers about the plane's status. Despite this mishap, all individuals onboard, including the pilot, only sustained minor injuries.
