In what has been described as a ‘pretty miraculous’ outcome, 11 people were rescued from the Atlantic Ocean yesterday following a controlled ditching by a British pilot. The aircraft, a twin-engine turboprop, suffered a critical loss of engine power approximately 200 nautical miles off the coast of Ireland. The pilot, whose name has not yet been released, executed an emergency landing on the open water, allowing all passengers and crew to evacuate into life rafts before the aircraft sank.
A nearby cargo vessel responded to the distress signal and arrived within 45 minutes, pulling the survivors from the sea. No serious injuries were reported, though several individuals were treated for hypothermia. The rapid response of maritime rescue services and the pilot’s skill are being credited with preventing a loss of life.
‘If that landing had been just a few degrees off, we would be talking about recovery, not rescue,’ a coastguard spokesperson stated. Investigations into the mechanical failure are underway. This event underscores the ongoing risks of transoceanic air travel, even in an era of advanced aviation safety.
