The unit was on a training mission when it was redirected to assist in the search and rescue effort after an emergency locator transmitter signal alerted the US Coast Guard about a potential distress situation.
“They had already been in the raft for about five hours,” Capt Rory Whipple said. “You could tell just by looking at them that they were in distress – physically, mentally and emotionally.”
The rescuers worked against the clock to bring all the passengers to safety before the helicopters needed to refuel.
“I have not known anyone to survive a ditching in the ocean,” Maj Elizabeth Piowaty, an aircraft commander who assisted with the rescue, said. “And, from what I’ve seen, I mean, for all those people to survive is pretty miraculous.”
All 11 people on board were taken to a Florida hospital. Three suffered minor injuries.
“Everybody was rejoicing to know that we get saved because we thought we were going to die,” Olympia Outten, one of the passengers on the plane, said afterwards. “That was a scene that [was] just like it was a movie.”
The Bahamian authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
