Additional Coverage:
- Survivors of plane crash off Florida were on a life raft for hours with no idea if help was coming (apnews.com)
Florida Plane Crash Rescue: 11 Survivors Saved After Hours Adrift at Sea
In a harrowing ordeal off the coast of Florida, 11 individuals survived for five hours adrift on a life raft after their Beechcraft 300 King Air turboprop experienced engine failure. The aircraft, en route from Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas to Grand Bahama International Airport, was forced to ditch approximately 50 miles off Vero Beach.
The pilot successfully evacuated all 10 passengers-three with minor injuries-onto a yellow life raft before the plane sank. As a thunderstorm neared, the survivors huddled beneath a tarp for shelter, unsure if rescue was imminent.
Air Force rescue teams, already airborne on a training mission, were swiftly redirected after the plane’s emergency beacon signaled the Coast Guard. Air Force Reserve Maj.
Elizabeth Piowaty, commanding a HC-130J Combat King II, described the pilot’s skillful ditching and credited it with the miraculous survival of all aboard. “From what I’ve seen, for all those people to survive is pretty miraculous,” she said.
The rescue operation included dropping a survival kit with extra rafts, food, and water to the survivors. Combat rescue specialist Capt.
Rory Whipple then swam to the raft and helped hoist the survivors aboard a HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter amid challenging 3- to 5-foot swells. The final survivor was rescued just minutes before the helicopter needed to refuel.
No trace of the downed plane was found during the operation. All survivors were transported to Melbourne Orlando International Airport, where they received medical care and were reported in stable condition.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident.