Eleven Bahamian adults were rescued by U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force crews after a civilian aircraft crashed 80 miles east of Melbourne on Tuesday. The 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Space Force Base said an emergency locator transmitter signal from a twin-engine turboprop aircraft triggered the rescue effort around 11 a.m. A 920th Rescue Wing HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter crew was already in the air during a training mission when the call came in. They were redirected to help locate the downed plane and a life raft nearby.
The HH-60W crew worked with the Coast Guard and other Air Force units to recover the survivors. All 11 were hoisted from the life raft and taken to Melbourne Orlando International Airport for medical care. Officials said the survivors were in stable condition. The rescue involved multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard’s C-27 Spartan and HC-130J Combat King II crews from Patrick Space Force Base.
The HC-130J aircrew was the first on scene and located the aircraft and life raft. Col. Chadd Bloomstine, commander of the 920th Rescue Operations Group, said the crew’s ability to transition from a training flight to a real rescue mission highlighted their readiness. He called the operation a testament to the teamwork between the Air Force and Coast Guard. The 920th Rescue Wing’s HH-60W crew was already airborne when the emergency alert was received, which allowed them to respond quickly.
The aircraft went down in the Atlantic Ocean about 80 miles east of Melbourne. No details about the cause of the crash were released. The rescue operation took place near the Florida coast, a common area for maritime and aviation activity. Local officials praised the coordination between military and emergency services, noting the efficiency of the response.
The survivors were transported to Melbourne Orlando International Airport, where they received medical attention. The rescue marked a successful collaboration between the 920th Rescue Wing and the Coast Guard. Col. Bloomstine emphasized the importance of daily training that prepared the airmen for such missions. The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.