What happened
On 28 September 2018, an Air Niugini flight scheduled to travel from Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, to Port Moresby via Chuuk ended in an accident during its approach to Weno. The Boeing 737 was performing a scheduled service when it failed to reach the runway at Chuuk International Airport. Instead, the aircraft landed short of the paved surface and subsequently entered Chuuk Lagoon.
Following the impact, local residents in small watercraft assisted in the emergency response, successfully rescuing the majority of those on board. The crew members all survived the incident. Among the passengers, one fatality was confirmed after rescue divers located a deceased individual. Of the remaining occupants, 46 survivors were accounted for, with six individuals sustaining injuries during the event.
Investigation
Investigations into the incident established that the aircraft came to rest in the lagoon after the landing attempt failed to reach the designated runway.