Fifteen personnel with the U.S. Air Force Reserve 920th Rescue Wing scrambled to the scene after a plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean Tuesday, May 12, plucking 11 survivors from a bobbing raft and flying them to safety in Melbourne.
The Beechcraft BE30 twin-turboprop plane went down offshore about 80 miles from Melbourne about 12:05 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration reported. This location lies about 50 miles east of Vero Beach Regional Airport, and the survivors had been floating in a raft for about five hours before they were rescued.
Based at Patrick Space Force Base, the 920th Rescue Wing specializes in combat search-and-rescue missions around the world — and the wing also responds to civilian emergencies. The reservists dispatched an HC-130J Combat King II transport plane and a HH-60W Jolly Green II to the oceanic crash site.
“From what I’ve seen, I mean, for all those people to survive is pretty miraculous,” Maj. Elizabeth Piowaty, who commanded the Combat King, told reporters during a press conference Wednesday, May 13, at The Tides Club at Patrick Space Force Base.
After plucking the survivors from the sea, the Air Force reservists flew them to medical personnel and ambulances that had staged at Melbourne Orlando International Airport.
The downed aircraft had departed from Marsh Harbour Airport on Abaco Island in the Bahamas and was flying to Grand Bahama International Airport.
The Coast Guard also dispatched a C-27J Spartan surveillance aircraft. The FAA may release a preliminary accident-incident report as soon as today.
This story will be updated.
Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY, where he has covered news since 2004. Contact Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: ‘Pretty miraculous’: 920th Rescue Wing plucks 11 plane crash survivors from sea
Reporting by Rick Neale and J.D. Gallop, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
