Pilot rescued from ocean crash off Florida by marine units training in the area
A Tampa Marine Unit rescued a pilot from a small Florida plane crash this past week and it was the classic case of being in the right place at the right time.
Air and Marine Operations’ (AMO) Tampa Marine Unit alongside Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Impact Unit were conducting joint operations offshore Cedar Key, Florida on November 9, 2021. While underway, an aircraft was spotted floating in the water half a mile from the George T. Lewis Airport.
As agents and deputies approached the sinking plane, an individual was spotted climbing out and standing on the fuselage. Agents verified the pilot was the only occupant and were able to assist him onboard an AMO Coastal Interceptor Vessel.
Agents conducted an initial medical assessment of the pilot and contacted other entities for further assistance. Local Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene to conduct a more thorough evaluation of the individual.
“The situational awareness and quick actions of the Marine Interdiction Agents and Sheriff’s Deputies prevented a possible human tragedy,” said Michael Matthies, Deputy Director of Marine Operations. “We are thankful we have the proper resources and trained personnel to perform when incidents like this present themselves.”
“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘫𝘰𝘣𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦,” said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. “𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴’ (𝘈𝘔𝘖) 𝘛𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘔𝘖 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭.” Read more from Breaking911
Subscribe here
