A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City rescued five individuals from a life raft after their sailboat, Magic Bus, began taking on water 260 nautical miles offshore Cape Hatteras, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Madilynn Herrell/U.S. Coast Guard)
(Tribune News Service) — The Coast Guard rescued five passengers who were aboard a sinking boat off the shore of Cape Hatteras, N.C., on Thursday.
The Magic Bus sailboat departed from Stonington and was heading to the Bahamas when it began taking on water. The passengers sent a distress call to the Coast Guard, and abandoned the boat for a life raft, according to a service news release.
The life raft was found by crews on a HC-130 Hercules aircraft and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, according to the release. All five passengers were rescued and were in good, stable condition.
“Thanks to the calm and quick thinking of our friend Buster Pike, the teamwork of the crew, and the heroic efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy, everyone made it home safe and sound,” the group said.
Because of the long distance from shore, Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush provided fuel support for the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. The helicopter then flew the five passengers to Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, according to the release.
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A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City rescued five individuals from a life raft after their sailboat, Magic Bus, began taking on water 260 nautical miles offshore Cape Hatteras, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Matthew Thieme/U.S. Coast Guard)
A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City rescued five individuals from a life raft after their sailboat, Magic Bus, began taking on water 260 nautical miles offshore Cape Hatteras, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City)
