11 Rescued After King Air 300 Crashes in Atlantic Ocean

Eleven people were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard after a Beechcraft King Air 300, registration HP-1859, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on May 12, 2026. The aircraft was conducting a flight from Marsh Harbour Airport in Abaco, Bahamas, to Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport when the pilot declared an emergency. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft crashed at approximately 12:05 p.m. local time, roughly 50 miles east of Vero Beach Regional Airport, Florida.

Rescue Operations

U.S. Coast Guard crews, including a C-27 aircraft and helicopters, responded to the scene and successfully evacuated all 11 occupants. Survivors were transported to Melbourne Orlando International Airport before being transferred to local hospitals for medical evaluation. While some injuries were reported, no fatalities occurred. The National Transportation Safety Board has classified the aircraft as destroyed under event ID 20260513202989.

Investigation

The cause of the accident remains under investigation. The probe is being coordinated between the Bahamian Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority and the FAA. The King Air 300 is a widely used twin-engine turboprop aircraft for business and regional transport; however, official details regarding the operator of HP-1859 have not yet been released.