Air Force plane finds fisherman missing for a week in 4m dinghy

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon crew located a solo fisherman who had been missing for a week in a 4-meter aluminium skiff in the northern Cook Islands. The man was spotted this morning and waved to the aircraft, with nearby fishing vessels confirming they could retrieve him. He had left Pukapuka Island, about 1,140 kilometers northwest of Rarotonga, last Thursday and was reported overdue the following day. New Zealand’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre had requested RNZAF assistance earlier in the week, and the search began on Thursday. Cook Islands Police Commissioner Tai Joseph expressed gratitude for the help, noting the man appeared to have had minimal safety equipment.