A Canadian pilot stayed calm and even used humor after his small plane crashed into the Gulf of California in Mexico.
Michael MacDonald, 47, had been flying daily with a marine biologist for over a month. Their mission was to observe marine life in the area, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). But on April 18, during their 34th flight, the engine suddenly failed.
MacDonald said the plane was about seven miles from shore when the engine “just went silent.” The aircraft began to descend rapidly — about 490 feet per minute. He estimated he had only three minutes to act. When he couldn’t find the problem, he realized they would have to crash into the sea.
MacDonald has been a pilot since 2012. He followed emergency procedures and stayed focused. He and his passenger secured their harnesses. He also gave her a pillow to protect her face from debris during the crash.
Describing the impact to Ireland’s RTE, MacDonald said it “felt like a sea monster reached up and grabbed us and pulled us into the water.”
The Cessna 182 flipped upon impact. Its windshield shattered, leaving scratches on MacDonald’s leg. He unbuckled his harness and opened the plane door. But he noticed his passenger was struggling.
He reminded her to release her seatbelt. She then swam out of the plane, and MacDonald helped her inflate her life vest. When he tried to inflate his own, the pull cord failed. He had to blow air into a tube to fill it manually.
“I’ve been playing bagpipes for years,” MacDonald told CBC. “So it all came into practice.”
Remarkably, MacDonald’s phone still worked after the crash. His office called to confirm that an emergency signal had been received. Before the call dropped, MacDonald gave his location. He was told help was on the way.
MacDonald and the marine biologist waited two hours in the water. During that time, he tried to keep her calm. He kept eye contact and spoke with her often. He also cracked some “crappy dad jokes” to help pass the time, he told CTV News.
Eventually, the Mexican military arrived in a speedboat and rescued them. They were brought to land where doctors treated their cuts and bruises.
MacDonald said he lost his passport in the crash. But he told CTV News that he gained something more valuable: a lasting friendship.
“We’ve talked every day since the crash,” he told CBC. “She’s my little sister now.”
