In a blow to Pacific security, the U.S. Coast Guard has grounded all their Leonardo C-27J Spartan maritime patrol aircraft due to structural fatigue cracks.
it takes we take comprehensive measures and train our people year around to prepare for hurricane season. though hurricane michael was a rapid-developing storm, we were ready. what is your biggest challenge right now? our biggest challenge is going to be seeing what the damage is on scene and what strategies we have to use to get out there to the people. with that said, we have a multitude of aircraft that will be flying now and throughout for the duration of the response to respond. what kind of aircraft? we have c-144 fixed wing aircraft, h-60 and 65 rotary wing aircraft, and we have hercules aircraft that will be flying as well, at a higher level to help assess and deploy search and rescue equipment. captain rob mcleyland, coast guard sector. thank you for joining us. thank you all of the men and women of the u.s. coast guard who are doing life-saving work.
were able to take a look at the registration numbers on the boat and verify it was the boat the two boys were believed to be a aboard aboard. right now we have a c-144 airplane out of miami out there searching. we have a helicopter out searching. we ve got a small boat crew out of cape canavarel also out there looking for the two boys. coming up with plans right now how we re going to search throughout the night and into tomorrow as well. right now no idea how the boat may have capsized. we know that the seas have been 1 to 3 feet 11 to 13-knot winds. there have been thunderstorms that have rolled through the area. not uncommon this time of year. you know right now just hoping for the best and hoping for a happy ending in reuniting these boys with their families. i know people may be looking and saying these are two young boys but their parents are saying they were incredibly incredibly well versed on the water, highly experienced, a lot of experience fishing in the ocean there. peop
more on the story. reporter: two families distraught. since 5:00 p.m. friday evening, rescue crews have covered more than 5300 square nautical miles searching for the two boys aboard a 19-foot white single engine. they were last seen purchasing $110 worth of fuel at jupiter pointe club and arena. i think anything could be a factor at this point. reporter: the two families say the boys are avid fishermen, just as comfortable in the water as they are on land. they re on the boat as much as they possibly can. they have been around the water, the ocean, boats, going to the bahamas fishing for years. reporter: the coast guard has launched an hc-144 airplane and mh-65 dolphin helicopter and boat crews. the search now extending to the coast of melbourne. we appreciate the entire community s commitment already and we only ask that everybody continue to be safe in assisting to try and find the boys to try
so let s just stay safe and we ll keep on looking till we find them. reporter saneka from wpbf has the story. reporter: two families distraught. since 5:00 p.m. friday evening, rescue crews have covered more than 5300 square nautical miles searching for two boys aboard a 19-foot white single engine. they were last seen purchasing $110 of fuel at jupiter pointe club and areapnaarena. i think anything could be a factor. the two families say the boys are avid fishermen, just as comfortable in the water as they are on land. they re on the boat as much as they possibly can. they have been around the water, the ocean, boats, going to the bahamas fishing for years. reporter: the coast guard has launched an hc-144 airplane and mh-65 dolphin helicopter and boat crews from the inlet and station ft. pierce. the search now extending to the coast of melbourne. we appreciate the entire