Coast Guard, partner agencies rescued 1 from downed aircraft 18 miles east of Juno Beach

An MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Lakeworth Inlet crew approaches Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 to a life raft with one survivor aboard. Coast Guard Seventh District Command Center watchstanders received a notification from a registered Personal Locator Beacon, simultaneously the Federal Aviation Administration Miami Missions notified the district watchstanders about a downed aircraft located 18 miles east of Juno Beach. (Coast Guard photo)

JUNO BEACH, Fla. —​ ​ The Coast Guard along with the Palm Beach Sheriff's office rescued a man from the water after his small aircraft went down 18 miles east of Juno Beach.

Rescued was, Robert Lillard, 51.

Coast Guard 7th District command center watchstanders received a notification simultaneously from a registered Personal Locator Beacon and the Federal Aviation Administration reporting the downed aircraft.

The Coast Guard issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and launched an MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Miami, the Coast Guard Cutter Finback (WPB-87314), a 45-foot Medium Response Boat crew and a 33-foot Special purpose law enforcement boat crew from Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet to assist the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office in the search.

The MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew arrived on scene and located a life raft with one person in it. The Palm Beach Sheriff's Office surface unit arrived on scene embarked the survivor and confirmed that he was the only passenger aboard the aircraft.

Lillard was safely transferred to Phil Foster Boat Ramp with no reported injuries.

"This type of incident reiterates the importance of having a registered PLB to guarantee personal safety during air or sea transport,” said Sean Connett, Coast Guard 7th District command duty officer. “Thanks to the PLB, Lillard was rescued, which prevented a bad situation from getting worse"

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Coast Guard rescues 2 from disabled vessel 20 miles southwest of Bahamas

USCG MH-65 Dolphin Air Station Miami, photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Parrinello (archive).

MIAMI — The Coast Guard rescued two people from a disabled vessel Wednesday approximately 20 miles southwest of Freeport, Bahamas.

At approximately 8:40 a.m., Coast Guard 7th District watchstanders received an emergency position indicating radio beacon alert from a vessel southwest of the Bahamas. Watchstanders launched a Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered to the scene to assist. The helicopter crew hoisted the two people from the sailing vessel Mavi, and will transfer them to Palm Beach International Airport.

"The possession and proper utilization of an EPIRB was crucial to the success of this rescue mission," said Lt. Patrick Leavitt, chief duty officer at Coast Guard 7th District.​ "We recommend​ all boaters have a registered EPIRB, and know where all their equipment is in case of an emergency."

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USCG Cutter Robert Yered, Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Clases Mark Barney (archive).

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Coast Guard Air Station Miami crews prepare for Florence

Two Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews fly to Savannah, Georgia to pre-stage for Hurricane Florence response efforts, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. The Coast Guard pre-stages its assets and personnel near areas predicted to be affected by hurricanes to be able to quickly and rapidly respond to post-storm emergencies to save lives. U.S. Coast Guard video by Lt. j.g. Kyle Unger.

Two Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews conduct fueling operations at Coast Guard Air Station Miami in preparation for their upcoming flight to Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, Sept. 12, 2018. The two helicopter crews prepare to leave for Coast Guard Air Station Savannah to stage there in preparation for the Hurricane Florence response effort. Coast Guard Photo by Lt. j.g. Kyle Unger.

Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crewmembers conduct an asset pre-check for their upcoming flight to Coast Guard Air Station Savannah at Coast Guard Air Station Miami, Sept. 12, 2018. Two helicopter crews prepare to leave for Coast Guard Air Station Savannah to stage there in preparation for the Hurricane Florence response effort. Coast Guard Photo by Lt. j.g. Kyle Unger.

Coast Guard Air Station Miami crewmembers conduct an asset pre-check for an upcoming flight to Coast Guard Air Station Savannah at Coast Guard Air Station Miami, Sept. 12, 2018. Two helicopter crews prepare to leave for Coast Guard Air Station Savannah to stage there in preparation for the Hurricane Florence response effort. Coast Guard Photo by Lt. j.g. Kyle Unger.

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