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11 Survive After Bahamas Plane Ditches in Atlantic 80 Miles Off Florida Coast
A Beechcraft BE30 ditched in the Atlantic after engine failure on a flight from Marsh Harbour to Freeport, Bahamas. All 11 adults were rescued by an Air Force combat helicopter crew already airborne on a training mission after an emergency signal alerted authorities. Survivors spent five hours at sea before being taken to Melbourne Orlando International Airport.
May 15, 11:20 AM·1m read1 source
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U.S. Coast Guard announced the following day. All 11 passengers survived the ditching roughly 80 miles from the Florida coast after the civilian aircraft, a Beechcraft BE30, suffered engine failure while flying from Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, to Freeport.
M. ET. An Air Force combat helicopter crew was already airborne conducting a routine training mission when the alert was received and was redirected to assist in the search-and-rescue effort.
U.S. Air Force. U.S. Air Force Reserve Command.
The 11 survivors were taken to Melbourne Orlando International Airport, where emergency medical personnel were waiting. Dr. Scott Zenoni said at a news conference on May 14, 2026, that the passengers had various injuries including broken bones and lacerations but were all in stable condition.
Olympia Outten, one of the survivors, spoke at the same news conference on May 14, 2026. “We thought no one would have saw us. U.S. Marine. They saw us, and they save us,” Outten said.
Outten added that she kept praying during the ordeal. “And I thought, I keep on telling them, I say, ‘Lord, save us. Lord, save us. ’” She also recounted how her niece noticed the motors weren’t moving anymore and told the pilot the best thing to do was to put the plane down in the water.
The pilot was “alright” after the crash but was “in a trance,” Outten said. “He can’t believe this happens, after it happened. ” Air Force Col. ” Bahamian authorities are investigating the case. U.S.
