MIAMI — Coast Guard rescue crews located five survivors from a downed aircraft nine nautical miles southeast of Nassau, Bahamas Monday evening.

At approximately 7:30 p.m., air traffic controllers in Nassau contacted watchstanders at the Coast Guard 7th District command center to assist in the search of a downed single engine Cessna aircraft with five people reportedly aboard. The watchstanders launched a deployed Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew to search alongside the Royal Bahamian Defence Force.

The aircraft was reported to have taken off from Crooked Islands, Bahamas, en route to Nassau. 

At approximately 10:20 p.m., the watchstanders at the command center received a report from the aircrew aboard the MH-60 aircraft that they located the five people floating on a life raft approximately nine nautical miles southeast of Nassau. The Royal Bahamian Defence Force arrived on scene, safely embarked the five people and transported them back to the Bahamas. 

There were no reported injuries.