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A New Zealand air force aircraft has found two Kiribati fishermen who had been missing in a small boat for five days, New Zealand search and rescue authorities said Wednesday.
The crew of the P-3K2 Orion aircraft spotted the two men waving from their 4.5-meter open skiff 30 minutes into the planned search of more than 60,000 square km of open sea.
The skiff was found adrift about 480 km southeast of Nauru, Air Component Commander Air Commodore Darryn Webb said.
The crew reported that the men appeared to be in good health and dropped them a survival pack of food, water and a radio, and they contacted the closest fishing vessel with a request to pick up the two men.
"The quick and successful search for the fishermen is great news for their families. We are pleased that we are able to help our Pacific neighbors on these lifesaving missions," Webb said.
The fishermen had been missing since May 13 and the Rescue Coordination Center New Zealand (RCCNZ) requested the New Zealand Defence Force help with the search on Tuesday.
RCCNZ search and rescue mission coordinator Mike Roberts said finding the boat in an area of open ocean was outstanding.
"The search area was obviously correct and the aircraft has made its approach from precisely the right direction. While there is an element of luck involved, the Orion crew have done a fantastic job. I can't recall another search being successful so quickly," Roberts said.
On Saturday, New Zealand air force Orion found three Kiribati fishermen missing for a week adrift near Tarawa, the Pacific island nation's capital and main atoll.
The NZDF had deployed the Orion to conduct five search and rescue operations in the Pacific since January, including four to Kiribati.
(APD)
