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Sunday
Jan232011

Missing American Sailors Found Alive and Well Near Philippines

File photo. Photo Courtesy - Getty Images(MANILA, Philippines) – After a search that lasted more than 63 hours and covered 122,600 nautical miles, a boat containing five Americans has been located off the coast of the Philippines.

The missing boat, known as The Pineapple, made contact with land late Saturday night. The husband of one of the missing boaters was called by his wife once her cell phone was able to get reception. The boat was unable to make contact before that because after traveling through a storm, the boat lost radio contact and suffered a broken rudder. The Coast Guard says the boat was never in danger of sinking.

Two Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft, two Navy P-3 Orion aircraft, two Air Force C-12 aircraft, and the Coast Guard Cutter Sequoia were involved in the search efforts.

"This was a tremendous international multi-service search effort that covered an expansive area of open ocean," said Capt. Thomas Sparks, U.S. Coast Guard Guam Sector Commander.

"I'm elated for the family and friends of the Pineapple, but compelled to point out that this voyage was made without taking basic, common-sense precautions. The vessel did not have long distance communications or emergency distress equipment, and a comprehensive float plan was not filed," Sparks said.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

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