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Mon, Aug 15, 2005

Fishing Boat Comes To Rescue Of Downed PA-31

All On Plane -- Including Infant -- Recovered Safely

This is a story that could have had a much different -- much more tragic -- ending. But six people, one of them an eight-month old baby, are doing just fine now after they were plucked from the ocean. Their Piper PA-31 ditched Saturday six miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport in Florida.

"We had our mind on the fish but we noticed this plane a ways out. It was flying pretty low," Mike Sibley, captain of the 55-foot yacht "Spendthrift" told local reporters.

The aircraft was on a flight from North Eleuthra, Bahamas, to Fort Lauderdale, when it went down, according to the FAA. The pilot, who wasn't identified by the Coast Guard, issued a radio distress call just before going down.

"He made a perfect water landing," another boat captain aboard the Spendthrift, Walter Long, told local reporters. "The pilot did a great job. If it wasn't for him, they'd all be dead."

Sibley and Long were able to help the five adults and infant up onto the yacht as the plane sank in about 1,000 feet of water. One of the plane's passengers was treated and released for minor injuries.

FMI: www.faa.gov

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