NAVFAC Southwest Crane Operations helped retrieve a Navy training T-45 aircraft that ran off a runway at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) and into the San Diego Bay, May 22.

Naval Base Coronado NASNI Dispatch received notice that an aircraft had taxied off the runway into the water.

NAVFAC Southwest crew members were called to the scene to conduct an initial assessment. Crane Supervisor Jimmy Smith noticed the aircraft was floating above the surface of the water approximately 100 feet from the rocky shoal.

Smith coordinated viable action plans to lift the craft to safe ground. The aircraft was partially submerged and had a weight capacity of approximately 11,000 pounds.

"Taking all factors into consideration, the lift went extremely well," said Smith. "A fatigue management plan had been implemented, risk factors discussed and the plan was methodically and efficiently carried out with key personnel in place from the PWO, Superintendent of Operations, diving support to crane personnel."

A Southwest Region Maintenance Center diver was on stand-by with wire rope to secure the aircraft and provide the crane crews support.

The entire operation took approximately seven hours to complete.

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