Air Force Reserve Wing Assists in Downed Aircraft Rescue off Florida Coast

May 14, 2026 |Air Force Reserve Command |

Air Force Reserve airmen assigned to the 920th Rescue Wing assisted in the rescue of 11 survivors from a downed civilian aircraft in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 80 miles east of Melbourne, Florida, May 12, 2026.  

An emergency locator transmitter signal from a small aircraft alerted Coast Guard Southeast District watch standers to a potential distress situation that morning. 

At the time of the alert, a 920th Rescue Wing HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter crew was already airborne conducting a routine training mission. The crew was redirected to assist in the search and rescue effort after receiving a request to investigate the transmitter signal. 

Working alongside interagency partners, including the Coast Guard and additional Air Force rescue assets, the wing aircrew helped locate and recover 11 Bahamian adults from a life raft near the downed aircraft.  

The helicopter crew hoisted all 11 survivors and transported them to awaiting emergency medical services at Melbourne Orlando International Airport. All survivors were reported in stable condition. 

"This rescue highlights the readiness, professionalism and interoperability our airmen train for every day," said Air Force Col. Chadd Bloomstine, 920th Operations Group commander. "They immediately transitioned from training to real-world rescue operations alongside our Coast Guard and interagency partners. We are proud to have played a role in bringing 11 people home safely." 

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater C-27 Spartan aircrew and an HC-130J Combat King II aircrew from Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, also assisted in locating the downed aircraft and nearby life raft. 

The civilian aircraft reportedly departed Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, and was en route to Freeport, Bahamas, when it experienced engine failure. Bahamian authorities will investigate the cause of the incident. 

The 920th Rescue Wing, the Air Force Reserve's only combat search and rescue wing, routinely conducts rescue operations and training missions in support of civil authorities, national defense objectives and humanitarian response efforts.

Joint Statement for the 28th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue

May 13, 2026 |

The U.S. Department of War and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of National Defense held the 28th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) on May 12-13, 2026, in Washington.

Mr. John Noh, assistant secretary of war for Indo-Pacific security affairs, and Dr. Jay Finch, acting deputy assistant secretary of war for East Asia, led the U.S. delegation. Deputy minister for national defense policy, Mr. Kim Hong-Cheol, led the ROK delegation. Key senior U.S. and ROK defense and foreign affairs officials also participated in the dialogue.

During the meeting, both sides assessed the overall defense cooperation of the U.S.-ROK Alliance, and exchanged perspectives on policy directions that enhance the Alliance's combined defense posture. The two sides shared the desire to actively pursue cooperation to implement the areas of defense cooperation within the Joint Fact Sheet between the U.S. and the ROK presidents last November and the 57th Security Consultative Meeting Joint Communique.

They assessed that the KIDD laid a foundation for practical cooperation to further solidify the Alliance and looked forward to further deepening cooperation to achieve shared security goals on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific region.