A Spanish Air Force helicopter came down in the Atlantic when returning from Senegal today, triggering a search and rescue operation.

A Moroccan search helicopter located the stricken aircraft partially submerged at 19.30h but could see no sign of the crew. However, after a Spanish F18 was sent out to scour the area as the evening drew on, the crew, were found alive and well.

The Super Puma helicopter had come down 280 nautical miles from the Canary Islands. The crew, at first feared lost, comprised of a captain, lieutenant and sergeant, were located at 22.30h this evening.

The Ministry of Defence had lost contact with the AS 332 Super Puma belonging to 802 Squadron around three in the afternoon but it’s emergency beacon was soon tracked.

(News: Canary Islands, Spain)