Plane parachute saves pilot as he ditches into ocean

The propellers stopped and the single-engine plane seemed to glide through the air, 1500m above the Pacific Ocean.

No problem. The pilot just pulled the airframe parachute and hung tight as the Cirrus SR-22 floated down onto the choppy seas, 400km off the Hawaiian island of Maui.

Footage of the graceful crash-landing was captured by a rescue aircraft responding to the pilot's distress call on Sunday afternoon.

The pilot called for help after his plane ran out of fuel and auxiliary tanks were unable to reach the plane's main tank, KITV reports.

After deploying the parachute, the plane briefly dropped nose-first before levelling out and plopping into the water.

The pilot then climbed into a life raft and was picked up by rescuers.

He reportedly was not injured.