Two German pilots have been rescued after their plane crashed in the ice-cold waters off the coast of Greenland.
The single-engine Piper Malibu plane had travelled 800 miles from Goose Bay in Canada to Narsarsuaq Airport in Kujalleq municipality, southern Greenland when its engine failed at 12:17am on 29th July.
It was reportedly returning back to Germany after it departed in mid-July, to attend an airshow in the USA.
When the emergency arose, the two German pilots managed to send a mayday call to air traffic controllers in Nuuk before being forced to attempt a water landing.
The Danish Joint Arctic Command was able to coordinate the rescue and dispatched a challenger jet, which was able to locate the accident site.
Both pilots managed to exit the plane and board an inflatable survival raft.
It said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “The crew from the Air Transport Wing aboard the Challenger aircraft quickly located the plane’s position and tracked it as it descended towards the sea.
“In the waters southwest of Qaqortoq, the two pilots had managed to get into a life raft after the emergency landing and were able to signal to the Challenger crew, who flew over the position and remained in the area.
“The inspection vessel Triton had previously set course for the life raft and within just 30 minutes rescued the two individuals into Triton’s inflatable boat (RHIB).”
The Danish Navy frigate then transferred the two men to a local hospital in Qaqortoq for observation.
The Danish Joint Arctic Command added: “Further handling and investigation of the case will now be carried out by the Greenland Police, and Arctic Command has no additional comments on the matter.
“The rescue operation is a prime example of outstanding cooperation between Arctic Command headquarters in Nuuk and the units deployed by the Air Force and Navy under Arctic Command’s leadership.
“The crews of the Challenger and TRITON acted swiftly, and their collaboration ensured the survival of the two individuals.”
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Story By: Georgina Jedikovska, Sub-Editor: Georgina Jedikovska, Agency: Newsflash
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