A Canadian pilot has recounted his harrowing experience surviving an emergency landing at sea after the engine of his Cessna 182 stopped midair over the Gulf of California.
Mike MacDonald was surveying the sea for wildlife alongside a marine biologist on April 18 when the unexpected happened.
"When the engine stopped, it suddenly became very quiet in the airplane. And it's that kind of gut-wrenching feeling like, oh-oh, this could be problems," said Mr MacDonald.
With only a few minutes to react, Mr MacDonald executed a crash landing, saying the moment of the collision "felt like a sea monster reached up and grabbed us and pulled us into the water."
The plane flipped upon crashing, breaking the windshield, with debris leaving cuts and scratches on his leg. Yet, Mr MacDonald remained focused, ensuring his companion escaped safely.
"The airplane just disappeared into the waves. It was gone," he recalled, likening the sinking of the small aircraft to the Titanic's final moments.
Despite the turmoil after hitting water, the pilot maintained his composure, guiding his passenger through the terrifying situation and trying to keep her calm. After some hours floating in the water, they were rescued by a nearby vessel which they managed to contact using a marine radio that floated with the crash debris. The Mexican Navy later transported them back to land.
Mr MacDonald, now safe at home in Burnaby, Canada, underscored the importance of listening to airline safety instructions when flying and advised pilots to take extra emergency training.
"When you get onto a major airline and they show you where the exits are and pay attention to that. There might be one right behind you that you're not paying attention to, that could save your life."
