Written by The Maritime Executive
SEACOR Island Lines' Sea Express II cargo ship rescued three plane crash survivors on Monday morning.
A few minutes after takeoff, it appeared fuel had stopped flowing to both of the aircraft’s engines about 25 miles off the coast of Bimini.
The Cessna 337’s pilot spotted the Sea Express II, and made a soft landing a few miles from the vessel hoping that they had also been spotted.
All three passengers exited the aircraft safely with only minor injuries, just before it sank to the ocean floor.
The crew of the Sea Express II did spot the plane flying low and acted immediately, arriving on scene 20 minutes after the crash to pluck the survivors from the ocean.
The rescued three were openly appreciative of the ship’s crew and their hospitality; they were fed and hydrated aboard the vessel.
After their arrival in Port Everglades, the survivors were medically evaluated and were taken to the Port Everglades Fire Station.
Mike LaFleur, SEACOR Island Lines' CEO, said: “We are proud of our crew and grateful that the vessel was in the right place at the right time.”
Original article, photo and video: http://www.maritime-executive.com
AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE WATER OFF BIMINI ISLAND, NEAR DANIA BEACH, THE 3 PERSONS ON BOARD WERE RESCUED BY A PASSING SHIP, THE BAHAMAS
Flight Standards District Office: http://www.asias.faa.gov/pN924LA
CONSULTRESEARCH INC: http://registry.faa.gov/N924LA
DANIA BEACH, Fla. - Three men were rescued after their small plane crashed into the water about 27 miles east of Bimini.
The U.S. Coast Guard said the men took off from Great Harbour Cay in a Cessna 337 Monday morning that was headed to Opa-locka. They were rescued by good Samaritans on board a cargo ship.
The ship carrying the passengers and pilot is arrived in Dania Beach around 2:45 p.m. Monday. The CEO of Seacor Island Lines, which owns the cargo ship, says eight crew members were on board when they spotted the plane go down about four miles away from them.
Local 10's Andrew Perez spoke with the three victims. Ernie Martin, who is a 15-year-veteran pilot from Miami said he was heading back to South Florida from vacationing in Great Harbour Cay with his two friends, Javier Avino and Daniel Puig.
According to Martin, one of the engines failed so he decided to divert to Bimini. Soon after, the second engine on the plane failed. Martin says he spotted the ship nearby so he decided to make a soft landing a couple of miles from it.
Miraculously, all three of the men on board the plane survived and are doing well.
Story and Video: http://www.local10.com
Story and Video: http://miami.cbslocal.com
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