Coast Guard suspends search for missing from aircraft emergency water landing 18 miles northwest of Bahamas

News Release

Dec. 15, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast Contact: 7th District Public Affairs Office: 305-415-6683 After Hours: 786-367-7649

Coast Guard suspends search for missing man 18 miles northwest of Bahamas

 

MIAMI — The Coast Guard suspended their search at approximately 6:00 p.m. Friday for a missing pilot who made an emergency landing in the water 18 miles northwest off Freeport, Bahamas.

Missing is Mark Tanner, 57, of Gainesville, Florida. Janna Lower, 60, also of Gainesville was rescued from the water by a good Samaritan seaplane and transferred by a Coast Guard Air Station Miami helicopter crew to emergency medical services, who then transported her to the Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport.

"Suspending a case is never an easy decision nor is it a decision that is hastily made," said Christopher Eddy, the Seventh District Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator. “We remain ready to reinstitute a search if new information becomes available.”

The following Coast Guard assets covered more than 308 square miles and 24 hours searching for the missing pilot:

• Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter
• Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews 
• Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered crew
• Bahamas Air-Sea Rescue Association
• Royal Bahamas Police Force 

Watchstanders at Coast Guard 7th District Command Center received a notification Thursday from a Cessna 210 airplane reporting mechanical issues and stating they were going to make an emergency landing northwest of Freeport. The watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, and the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered crew to search and assist.

For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

 

-USCG-