SOUTH FLORIDA — The 11 people rescued after their aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday following engine failure are recovering, Patrick Space Force Base officials said. All occupants on the plane – 11 Bahamian adults – were taken to area hospitals, where they received medical treatment.
“All survivors were reported in stable condition,” officials with Patrick Space Force Base said in a statement.
The crash occurred at 12:05 p.m. about 50 miles east of the Vero Beach Regional Airport, according to the FAA. Aircrews from the 920th Rescue Wing based at Patrick Space Force Base, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, were involved in the rescue operation.
“This rescue highlights the readiness, professionalism, and interoperability our airmen train for every day,” Col. Chadd Bloomstine, commander of the 920th Rescue Operations Group, said in a statement.
“Our crews were already airborne conducting training when the call came in, enabling them to seamlessly transition from a routine training flight to real-world rescue operations alongside our Coast Guard and interagency partners.”
The Beechcraft BE30 plane departed from the Leonard M. Thompson International Airport at Marsh Harbour, in the Abaco Islands. The turboprop engine, fixed-wing plane was headed to the Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport during what was supposed to be a 45-minute flight.
There were reports of storms barreling offshore in the ocean about the time of the crash, said Robert Haley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
The plane’s emergency locator transmitter signal alerted Coast Guard Southeast District officials about 11 a.m. of a potential distress situation. A 920th Rescue Wing helicopter crew that was already scanning the waters was redirected to help in the search and rescue efforts, officials said.
The Patrick Space Force Base-based aircrew helped locate the survivors sitting in a life raft near the downed plane. A Coast Guard aircrew also provided support during the rescue.
The 920th Rescue Wing aircrew hoisted the individuals onto the helicopter and flew them to Melbourne Orlando International Airport. Ten of the survivors were then taken to Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, while one was taken to Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital, said Don Walker, communications director for Brevard County government.
The Bahamas Airport Authority will investigate the cause of the crash since it happened in Bahamian airspace.
“We are proud to have played a key role in safely returning 11 people home,” Bloomstine said. “This mission perfectly demonstrates the reserve advantage: highly experienced airmen in the 920th who stand ready to execute combat search and rescue at a moment’s notice.”
Courtesy photos
