Two men clinging to a life raft have been rescued and winched to safety following a light plane crash off the Queensland coast.
Emergency services raced to the scene after a light aircraft plummeted into the ocean near the Barwon Banks reef off Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast around 9am on Friday.
Queensland Ambulance paramedics, a government-owned helicopter and the RACQ LifeFlight rescue chopper responded the incident.
Two men believed to be aged in their 50s were spotted in the water clinging to a life raft near the crash site and were rescued shortly before 10am.
The patients were transported to Sunshine Coast University Hospital for further assessment.
Two men have miraculously survived a light plane crash which plunged into the ocean off Queensland’s Sunshine Coast
The RACQ was involved in the search for two survivors found clinging to a life raft
It’s understood the men miraculously escaped unscathed with no injuries and are expected to be discharged from hospital later on Friday, the Courier Mail reported.
It’s currently unknown if more occupants were on board the plane.
‘We were notified just after 9am that a light aircraft was was having some difficulties,’ a Queensland Ambulance spokesman said.
Queensland Police confirmed emergency responders attended the scene, including officers from the Sunshine Coast water patrol.
The plane is believed to be a Cessna aircraft which was reportedly flying to the American Samoa capital of Pago Pago.
Flight tracking data shows that the plane turned around before it crashed 90 minutes after it took off from the Sunshine Coast.
It’s understood the plane crashed near Barwon Banks, which is located 22 nautical miles (40.7km) offshore.
Queensland Ambulance transported the two men to Sunshine University Hospital
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
