MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WFRV) – The United States Coast Guard Station Milwaukee says that three people were rescued from Lake Michigan after their aircraft went down about 12 nautical miles offshore on Thursday afternoon.
According to a release, the three individuals survived the incident, which was reported around 12:45 p.m. by the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center. Sector Lake Michigan deployed a 45-foot Response Boat that arrived and grabbed the people from the water.
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A helicopter crew was also dispatched as part of the response. The downed Cessna aircraft sank; however, it is not considered a hazard.
“The survivors were able to use their cell phone to text first responders in Milwaukee, who then relayed their position to responding Coast Guard units,” Chief Donald Hamilton, Officer-in-Charge of Station Milwaukee, said via the release.
The aircraft had an emergency locator transmitter that helped officials locate the survivors, who were all wearing life vests, which helped them stay afloat.
