RAF and Coastguard aircraft scrambled as fishing boat carrying 17 issues Mayday

A major rescue effort was launched after a Mayday call was issued by a fishing vessel that ran aground off Orkney, with 17 people subsequently airlifted to safety. The alert came at around 6:30am near the island of Hoy, prompting the dispatch of RNLI lifeboat crews from Stromness, Coastguard helicopters from Sumburgh and Stornoway, and the Kirkwall and St Margaret’s Hope Coastguard Rescue Teams. A Royal Air Force maritime patrol aircraft also responded, along with two other vessels. Coastguard crews were unable to evacuate by boat because a westerly swell breaking over the vessel made an ocean rescue unsafe. The crew were instead winched off and taken to Kirkwall Airport.