11 Survivors Rescued After Plane Crash Off Florida Coast

All eleven passengers aboard a private twin-engine turboprop aircraft survived a crash into the Atlantic Ocean off central Florida on May 12, 2026. The plane, carrying adults from Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, to Freeport, experienced engine failure approximately 80 miles off Melbourne, Florida. An emergency locator signal alerted the US Coast Guard, initiating a multi-agency rescue operation involving the US Air Force Reserve. An HC-130J Combat King II crew, already on a training mission, located the survivors in a life raft amidst approaching thunderstorms and dropped essential supplies. Subsequently, pararescuers from the 920th Rescue Wing hoisted all eleven individuals to safety using a hovering helicopter. The rescue was completed with only five minutes of fuel remaining before refueling would have been necessary. The survivors were transported to Melbourne Orlando International Airport for medical evaluation, though specific injury details were not immediately released. Bahamian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, with initial reports citing engine failure. Officials described the survival of all occupants as miraculous given the distressing conditions they endured for five hours at sea.