The U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force reservists rescued 11 people Tuesday after their plane crashed about 80 miles off the coast of Melbourne, Florida.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that all passengers and crew members were accounted for.
The twin-engine turboprop airplane was traveling from Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, to Freeport when it experienced engine failure, according to CBS News. Bahamian authorities plan to investigate an official cause of the crash.
The Coast Guard launched a rescue mission after the plane went down around 11 a.m. Tuesday morning after an emergency locator transmitter alerted officials of a potential distress signal, according to CBS News.
At the time of the crash, a team of Air Force reservists were training near the crash site when they learned of a possible downed flight and headed to the scene, according to NBC News.
The 11 survivors, all Bahamian nationals, were floating in the water for approximately five hours adrift before rescuers spotted their raft, said Capt. Rory Whipple, according to NBC News.
“You could tell just by looking at them that they were in distress, physically, mentally, emotionally,” Whipple continued.
The rescue happened just before a thunderstorm rolled in. Air Force Maj. Elizabeth Piowaty shared, “Once we flew over them and identified them, a thunderstorm was coming in so they had their rain tarp over them for protection from exposure.”
Those involved in the rescue said it was “miraculous” that no major injuries were reported and everyone was able to make it back to shore, according to CBS News.
Whipple described the mission to reporters as a standard operation for his crew, but acknowledged the gravity of the situation for those in the water.
Whipple shared the survivors didn’t have any way to communicate, so they had no idea rescuers were on their way until they were overhead.
“As a reserve airman, I truly believe that we have the best job in the world,” he later added. “On someone’s worst day we’re at our best, bringing everyone home. And then at the end of the day, as a reserve airman, we get to go home to our families as well.”