In a remarkable display of teamwork and coordination, the United States Air Force airlifted 1,000 passengers and crew members from the Carnival Magic cruise ship on Monday, after it suffered a massive engine failure approximately 150 miles off the coast of Florida.
12:30 PM: The Carnival Magic, with 4,700 passengers and crew on board, was returning to Port Canaveral after a seven-day Caribbean cruise when the ship's main propulsion system failed.
1:00 PM: The ship began drifting in the Atlantic Ocean, with no power to its engines or systems.
2:00 PM: The Coast Guard issued an urgent call for assistance, and the Air Force's 459th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina was dispatched to the scene.
3:00 PM: Four C-17 Globemaster III transport planes arrived on the scene and began airlifting passengers and crew from the stricken ship.
4:00 PM: The first group of 100 passengers was safely evacuated by helicopter to the USS Wasp, a Navy amphibious assault ship.
5:00 PM: The remaining passengers and crew were airlifted to Joint Base Charleston in multiple rotations.
The rescue operation involved the United States Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, and Carnival Cruise Line.
"It was a surreal experience," said John Smith, a passenger on the Carnival Magic. "We were just enjoying the cruise when suddenly the ship started to slow down. Then the engines died and we were drifting."
"I was so relieved when I saw the C-17s arriving," said Mary Jones, another passenger. "We had been waiting for hours, and it was starting to get dark. I was so happy to be going home."
The Carnival Magic was towed to Port Canaveral on Tuesday, where it is undergoing repairs. The cause of the engine failure is still under investigation.
Carnival Cruise Line has offered a full refund to all passengers and a free future cruise. The company has also apologized for the inconvenience and thanked the Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, and its own crew for their heroic efforts.
The dramatic rescue of the Carnival Magic passengers and crew highlights the importance of:
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