Two commercial airliners helped to locate a yachtsman who was missing off the coast of Australia.
Two commercial airliners helped to locate a yachtsman who was missing off the coast of Australia.
The sailor had activated his emergency beacon, but was out of helicopter range. As the aeroplanes were flying over the yacht’s GPS position, rescuers asked their pilots for assistance.
Crew onboard the Air Canada and Air New Zealand aircraft asked passengers if they had any binoculars that could be used to help in the search.
The yachtsman was located by the Air Canada airliner, which descended to 3,700ft in order to circle the vessel.
The 44-year-old sailor was picked up 270nm out to sea – where he had been drifting for sixteen hours – and was said to be uninjured and in good spirits.
