Boat sinks 260 miles off NC’s Cape Hatteras, leaving 5 in life raft, rescuers say

A crowded life raft adrift in the Atlantic was so off North Carolina’s coast that a helicopter had to refuel twice on an aircraft carrier to complete the long-distance rescue mission, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Five men were found on the raft Thursday, Nov. 6, and flown to a U.S. Coast Guard Air Station /in Elizabeth City , the Coast Guard said in Nov. 6 news release.

The raft was 260 nautical miles east of Cape Hatteras on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, officials reported.

“Watchstanders received a distress call from the crew of the sailing vessel Magic Bus, reporting their vessel was taking on water and all five people aboard were abandoning ship into their life raft,” the Coast Guard said.

“The HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew located the life raft, with all five people aboard, established communications, and confirmed everyone was stable and in good condition.”

A helicopter was sent to hover over the raft and pull the five men up in rescue baskets, video shows.

“Because of the long distance from shore, the Coast Guard coordinated with the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush to provide fueling support for the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew while they were enroute to the rescue,” the Coast Guard reported.

The helicopter returned a second time to the aircraft to refuel on the way back to shore, officials said.

Details of what caused the sailboat to sink were not released.

Elizabeth City is about a 165-mile drive northeast from Raleigh.

This story was originally published November 7, 2025 at 7:35 AM with the headline "Boat sinks 260 miles off NC’s Cape Hatteras, leaving 5 in life raft, rescuers say."