Rescuers recount effort to retrieve 11 survivors from life raft after plane crash off Florida
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Eleven survivors of a Beechcraft 300 King Air turboprop crash off the coast of Florida floated on a life raft for five hours before being rescued by U.S. military search and rescue crews amid approaching thunderstorms.
- The plane, traveling from Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas to Grand Bahama International Airport, experienced engine failure about 50 miles off Vero Beach, leading the pilot to ditch the aircraft in the ocean and successfully get all passengers onto a life raft.
- Rescue teams, already airborne on a training mission, were redirected and located the survivors using the plane’s emergency beacon; they dropped survival supplies and hoisted all survivors to safety despite challenging ocean conditions.
- All 11 survivors were transported to Melbourne Orlando International Airport and reported to be in stable condition, while the FAA has launched an investigation into the crash.
- Military personnel praised the pilot’s skill in managing the ditching and noted the emotional and physical distress endured by the survivors during their time adrift at sea.