Royal New Zealand Air Force rescues eight people from two missing boats in Pacific

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) successfully rescued eight individuals from two separate missing boats in the Pacific Ocean. An RNZAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft spotted a distressed vessel while en route to Fiji for refueling. Fiji's Navy then conducted the rescue of five people from this boat, who are now heading home.

"The quick response to the diversion request and successful rescue was a credit to the aircraft crew," said Group Captain Brett Clayton, acting air component commander. "Thanks to the professionalism and readiness of the personnel involved in the air, on the sea and on land, the sailors on this vessel will make it home to their families."

The same aircraft, on a separate mission in Kiribati, subsequently located and assisted another three people on a small boat that had experienced engine issues. This marks the second publicly reported New Zealand rescue in the Pacific this year, following a navy ship's rescue of two Tongan fishermen lost at sea.

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The quick response to the diversion request and successful rescue was a credit to the aircraft crew. Thanks to the professionalism and readiness of the personnel involved in the air, on the sea and on land, the sailors on this vessel will make it home to their families.