Survivors of plane crash off Florida coast were on raft for hours, didn't know help was coming, military says
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- A twin-engine turboprop plane crashed about 80 miles off the east coast of Florida, with 11 Bahamian adults on board who were rescued after floating on a life raft for around five hours.
- The U.S. military, including a 920th Rescue Wing helicopter, Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, and Patrick Space Force Base aircrews, conducted the rescue after an emergency locator transmitter signal alerted them to the distress.
- Survivors were found in distress but without major injuries, and their survival was described as "miraculous," especially given the approaching thunderstorm during the rescue operation.
- The plane had departed from Marsh Harbor, Bahamas, en route to Freeport when it experienced engine failure and crashed; Bahamian authorities will investigate the cause.
- All survivors were airlifted to Melbourne Orlando International Airport and are in stable condition.