Photos: Davis-Monthan Airmen rescue injured sailors
Rescuers from southern Arizona reached and stabilized two critically injured Chinese sailors whose boat sunk in the Pacific Ocean, an official at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base said Sunday.
A Venezuelan fishing boat found the sailors floating in a raft Friday afternoon after their vessel sank off the coast of Mexico, said Sarah Schwennesen, spokeswoman at the Tucson base. She says the sailors were badly burned in either a fire or explosion. —AP
Davis-Monthan para rescue
Master Sgt. Chris Young, the static jump master for the mission, talks about the rescue of sailors from Venezuelan fishing boat by U.S. Air Force members based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tuesday, May 6, 2014, Tucson, Ariz.
Davis-Monthan para rescue
Capt. Russell Gray, the flight surgeon for the mission, talks about the rescue of Chinese sailors from a Venezuelan fishing boat by U.S. Air Force personnel from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
Davis-Monthan Airmen rescue
A U.S. Air Force pararescue Airman from the 48th Rescue Squadron parachutes into the Pacific Ocean to aid to two critically injured sailors aboard a Venezuelan fishing boat May 3, 2014. The Airmen flew in two HC-130J Combat King II aircraft and three HH-60 Pavehawk helicopters for nearly 11 hours, and then parachuted into the ocean 1,100 nautical miles from the Mexican coast with two inflatable zodiac boats and medical equipment to deliver lifesaving care. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Grant/Released)
Davis-Monthan Airmen rescue
U.S. Air Force pararescuemen from the 563rd Rescue Group receive a mission update while en-route to rescue two critically injured sailors aboard a Venezuelan fishing boat 1,100 nautical miles off the coast of Mexico in the Pacific Ocean, May 3, 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Grant/Released)
Davis-Monthan Airmen rescue
Maj. Nelson Bennet, a pilot assigned to the 79th Rescue Squadron, positions an HC-130J Combat King II behind a KC-135 Stratotanker for air-to-air refueling off the coast of Mexico May 3, 2014. Bennet and his crew transported U.S. Air Force pararescuemen from the 563rd Rescue Group to rescue two critically injured sailors aboard a Venezuelan fishing boat 1,100 nautical miles off the coast of Mexico in the Pacific Ocean. The teams flew nearly 11 hours, requiring the in-air refueling, before the pararescue forces parachuted into the ocean along with two inflatable zodiac boats and medical equipment to deliver lifesaving care. The KC-135 was flown by Airmen from the Arizona Air National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Grant/Released)
Davis-Monthan Airmen rescue
Maj. Nelson Bennet, a pilot assigned to the 79th Rescue Squadron, positions an HC-130J Combat King II behind a KC-135 Stratotanker for air-to-air refueling off the coast of Mexico May 3, 2014. Bennet and his crew transported U.S. Air Force pararescuemen from the 563rd Rescue Group to rescue two critically injured sailors 1,100 nautical miles off the coast of Mexico in the Pacific Ocean. The teams flew nearly 11 hours, requiring the in-air refueling, before the pararescue forces parachuted into the ocean along with two inflatable zodiac boats and medical equipment to deliver lifesaving care. The KC-135 was flown by Airmen from the Arizona Air National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Grant/Released)
Davis-Monthan Airmen rescue
U.S. Air Force pararescue Airmen from the 48th Rescue Squadron perform a function check on their gear before parachuting into the Pacific Ocean to aid to two critically-injured sailors aboard a Venezuelan fishing boat May 3, 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Grant/Released)
Davis-Monthan Airmen rescue
U.S. Air Force pararescue Airmen from the 48th Rescue Squadron parachute into the Pacific Ocean to aid to two critically injured sailors aboard a Venezuelan fishing boat May 3, 2014. The Airmen flew in two HC-130J Combat King II aircraft and three HH-60 Pavehawk helicopters for nearly 11 hours, and then parachuted into the ocean 1,100 nautical miles off the Mexican coast with two inflatable zodiac boats and medical equipment to deliver lifesaving care. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Grant/Released)
Davis-Monthan Airmen rescue
A Venezuelan fishing boat waits for U.S. Air Force pararescuemen as the Airmen parachute into the Pacific Ocean to aid to two critically injured sailors May 3, 2014. The Airmen, assigned to the 48th Rescue Squadron, flew in two HC-130J Combat King II aircraft and three HH-60 Pavehawk helicopters for nearly 11 hours, and then parachuted into the ocean1,100 nautical miles from the Mexican coast with two inflatable zodiac boats and medical equipment to deliver lifesaving care. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Grant/Released)
Davis-Monthan Airmen rescue
Airman 1st Class Franscisco Harper, left, and a pararescue Airman survey the area as U.S. Air Force pararescue forces parachute into the Pacific Ocean to aid to two critically injured sailors aboard a Venezuelan fishing boat May 3, 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Grant/Released)
Davis-Monthan Airmen rescue
A U.S. Air Force pararescue Airman from the 48th Rescue Squadron parachutes into the Pacific Ocean to aid to two critically injured sailors aboard a Venezuelan fishing boat May 3, 2014. The Airmen flew in two HC-130J Combat King II aircraft and three HH-60 Pavehawk helicopters for nearly 11 hours, and then parachuted into the ocean 1,100 nautical miles from the Mexican coast with two inflatable zodiac boats and medical equipment to deliver lifesaving care. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Grant/Released)
Davis-Monthan Airmen rescue
Airman 1st Class Franscisco Harper, left, and a pararescue Airman survey the area as U.S. Air Force pararescue forces parachute into the Pacific Ocean to aid to two critically injured sailors aboard a Venezuelan fishing boat May 3, 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Grant/Released)
Davis-Monthan Airmen rescue
A team of U.S. Air Force pararescue Airmen make their way in a zodiac inflatable boat to provide lifesaving care to sailors aboard a Venezuelan fishing ship in the Pacific Ocean, May 3, 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Grant/Released)
PHOENIX — Rescuers from southern Arizona reached and stabilized two critically injured Chinese sailors whose boat sunk in the Pacific Ocean, …
An Air Force rescue team and two critically burned Chinese fisherman whose ship sank off the coast of Mexico were hoisted from a Venezuelan sh…