Plane Crash-Lands Off Florida Coast; All 11 Survivors Rescued

"I did my best." – Pilot Ian Nixon

"Pretty miraculous." – Maj Elizabeth Piowaty, on the survival of all 11 passengers.

Survivors Rescued After Plane Ditches in Atlantic

In a dramatic rescue operation off the coast of Florida, all 11 people on board a chartered Beechcraft King Air 300 survived after the aircraft crash-landed in the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

The flight was traveling from Marsh Harbour in the Abaco Islands, Bahamas, to Freeport, Grand Bahama. The crash site was located approximately 50 to 80 nautical miles east of Melbourne, Florida. Three individuals sustained minor injuries.

Chronology of the Incident

The pilot, 43-year-old Bahamian Ian Nixon, reported noticing issues with one engine, followed by a complete loss of power in the second engine. He attempted to radio air traffic control in Freeport and Miami but received no response. Nixon stated that all communication and avionics systems failed before the crash.

One survivor, Olympia Outten, reported that the pilot appeared to have become off course in stormy weather and that fuel was running low prior to the ditching.

The aircraft made an emergency landing—known as a ditching—in the ocean. Upon impact, the aircraft’s emergency beacon activated, and the signal was detected by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The 920th Rescue Wing of the U.S. Air Force led the rescue, deploying a Combat King II transport plane and an HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter.

• Survivors spent approximately five hours in a single life raft before being located.
• An approaching thunderstorm added urgency to the operation.
• The helicopter crew conducted nine hoist lifts over roughly 1.5 hours to retrieve all 11 survivors from choppy seas.
• Helicopter pilot Lt Col Matt Johnson reported that the aircraft had approximately five minutes of fuel remaining when the last survivor was hoisted.
• Some survivors required urgent medical attention and were transported to Melbourne Orlando International Airport via helicopter.
• Olympia Outten reported being trapped by her seatbelt and was freed by her son before exiting the aircraft.

Survivor Condition and Medical Treatment

Pilot Ian Nixon received treatment for minor injuries at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Florida. Air Force Capt Rory Whipple, who entered the life raft, described the survivors as in distress "physically, mentally, and emotionally." Survivors were unaware that rescue was coming until the aircraft arrived overhead.

Investigation

The Bahamas Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) stated that since the incident occurred outside territorial waters, it will not conduct the investigation. The AAIA has notified relevant authorities, and the cause of the emergency remains under investigation. The authority stated it will not speculate on the cause.