Maldives' new drone fleet aids in rescue of adrift fishing boat
The boat left for fishing late on Friday afternoon and was scheduled to return at 8 pm on Saturday evening.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
The recently formed air wing of Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) through its UAV drones aided in the search and rescue a fishing boat that had gone missing with three people on board.
The boat 'Farihi 2' was reported missing at 10:45 pm on Friday evening. The boat went fishing late on Friday afternoon and was scheduled to return at 8 pm on Saturday evening.
Police along with MNDF had launched a search operation by air and sea.
Shortly before sunset, MNDF told the media that the vessel had been spotted by a drone 23 nautical miles off Meemu Atoll Raiymandhoo island.
According to the MNDF, the vessel appears to have had engine trouble and was drifting when it was found.
"All three men aboard the vessel are in good health," MNDF added.
Maldives acquired three military drones from a Turkish company to launch its air wing last month.
This is the first time the island nation has used its drones in a search and rescue operation.
