RNZAF Squadron thanked by survivors
Members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 5 Air Squadron met with the survivors of a plane crash who they helped to save on 15 July.
Members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 5 Air Squadron met with the survivors of a plane crash who they helped to save on 15 July.
The squadron had been positioned on Marine Corp Base Hawaii at the time for the Rim of the Pacific 2016 training exercise and so joined other multinational forces in the search and rescue of the two survivors.
The base received a request from the US Coast Guard’s Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Honolulu after a light aircraft went missing 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Kona. The twin-engine aircraft was flying from Maui to Kona when the pilot reported an emergency to the Coast Guard before disappearing off the radar. RNZAF dispatched a P-3K2 Orion to aid the SAR mission.
David McMahon and Sydnie Uemoto, who were in the downed aircraft, were found 22 hours later attempting to swim to shore and were airlifted to safety by the US Coast Guard.
“We knew, with the RIMPAC exercise going on, that there were a lot of people available to help rescue us, and it gave us the courage to hang on until they found us,” McMahon said about the crash. “I can’t explain my immense gratitude, knowing how much effort went into this rescue operation, so that Sydnie and I could make it back safe.”
Rick McMahon, David’s father, also thanked the assembled service members and told them that they were ‘heroes’ for what they did.
Wing Commander Daniel Hunt was pleased to see that the squadron’s training had paid off: “I knew once we got out there and got on with our job, the techniques and the procedures we use would be put into practice, and I’m happy that we were successful and able to help.”