Small plane veers off runway at airport; no one is injured

A single-engine Cessna aircraft veered off a runway at Honolulu Airport Thursday, but no one was hurt and airport operations were not disrupted, officials said.

The pilot, a 20-year-old woman, was not identified and not injured, according to the state Department of Transportation and the instructional flying company that operates the plane.

No one else was in the aircraft.

The incident happened on the runway near Lagoon Drive at 12:12 p.m.

Airport operations were not affected, state transportation spokesman Dan Meisenzahl said.

The aircraft is registered to Hawaii Aircraft Leasing and operated by Moore Air Flight School on Nakolo Place.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating, said the Cessna 172 went off the left side of Runway 4-L, crossed a grassy area and came to rest on Runway 8-L.

Mark H. Jones, president and chief flight instructor for Moore Air, said the woman began flying lessons in September and had flown solo several times but was still receiving instruction.

Jones said strong Kona winds and her inexperience likely contributed to the mishap.

The aircraft was damaged but can be repaired, he said.