Coast Guard Rescues 11 Plane Crash Survivors From Life Raft Off Florida Coast

Eleven people survived a plane crash off the Florida coast and spent five hours in a life raft before being plucked to safety, officials said Wednesday.

“spent five harrowing hours in a raft before they were plucked to safety”

NBC News

The Coast Guard said the twin-engine turboprop airplane went down about 80 miles from Melbourne, Florida, and that all 11 people on board “are accounted for,” in a statement.

CBS News

Air Force Maj. Elizabeth Piowaty, an aircraft commander involved in the rescue operation, told reporters Wednesday, “for all those people to survive is pretty miraculous.”

Capt. Rory Whipple said the survivors had no way to communicate or call for help, but their emergency locator transmitter beacon led rescuers to the scene, and he added, “They didn’t even know that we were coming until we were directly overhead.”

CBS News reported that the rescue took place about 80 miles off the coast of Melbourne, Florida, and that an emergency locator transmitter signal alerted the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District watchstanders around 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Maj. Elizabeth Piowaty said during a news conference Wednesday that the ELT sends a signal when there is a potential issue, explaining, “It can trigger that sensor, which will go off and give notifications.”

Diario de Burgos

Capt. Rory Whipple said the 11 Bahamian adults were spotted on a life raft after being “about five hours” in the water, and he described them as in distress “Physically, mentally and emotionally.”

NBC News said Crewmembers aboard an Air Rescue Wing HH-60W Jolly Green helicopter hoisted the 11 victims from a life raft to safety, and Lt. Col. Matt Johnson said the airmen fought both choppy waters and “bingo time,” the point when rescuers would be forced to refuel or head back to base for fuel.

After the rescue, all 11 Bahamian adults were taken to Melbourne Orlando International Airport and were listed as stable, the Coast Guard said.

“All 11 Bahamian adults on the downed aircraft were taken to Melbourne Orlando International Airport”

NBC News

NBC News reported that the survivors were taking shelter under a tarp to protect themselves from the elements before rescuers dropped food and supplies to tide them over, and Piowaty said, “They were able to spread out their food and water and some basic survival tools.”

CBS News said the survivors were hoisted into the helicopter with minutes left of fuel to spare, and that the operation was launched after the ELT alert around 11 a.m. Tuesday.

The Coast Guard said the plane departed from Marsh Harbor, Bahamas, and was headed to Freeport when it crashed, and CBS News reported that Bahamian authorities will investigate the official cause.