Pilot Survives Gulf of California Plane Crash, Cracks Jokes While Awaiting Rescue

A Canadian pilot and his passenger survived a plane crash off Mexico, filming footage of their ordeal as they awaited rescue on April 18.

A Canadian pilot and his marine biologist passenger miraculously survived a crash into the Gulf of California after their small aircraft lost engine power mid-flight, forcing them to ditch into the ocean and wait hours for rescue.

On April 18, veteran commercial pilot Michael McDonald was about three hours into a routine survey flight over Mexico’s Gulf of California when his Cessna 182’s engine suddenly failed. “The engine just went silent,” McDonald recalled. The aircraft was flying at approximately 1,500 feet and plummeting at 500 feet per minute, with at least seven miles of ocean between them and the nearest land.

McDonald quickly attempted to restart the engine, but with no success. Realizing time was short, he handed a pillow to his passenger—who has not been publicly identified—and instructed her to cover her face and brace for impact. “Three minutes is all we had left to play with,” he said, describing the final moments before the plane hit the water at around 70 mph.

The pilot and marine biologist had been flying over the Gulf of California daily for over a month

The impact shattered the windshield and flipped the plane upside down, instantly flooding the cockpit. Despite the violent crash, both McDonald and his passenger escaped injury, unbuckled their harnesses, and activated their inflatable life vests.

Incredibly, McDonald's iPhone survived the crash inside its waterproof case. His company, alerted to the aircraft's emergency via GPS tracking, called him shortly after the incident. While floating in the open water, McDonald documented the ordeal by taking selfies and recording video clips.

“Waiting to get rescued. Might be a while,” he said in one video, floating in a yellow life vest with waves rolling in the background.

McDonald has been flying planes since 2012

To maintain calm, the pilot kept talking to his passenger, telling what he called “crappy dad jokes” to lighten the mood during the nearly two-hour wait for rescue. He described the surreal experience as “a bit of an out-of-body” moment and praised his passenger’s composure.

“She’s like a little sister now,” McDonald said, referring to the bond formed through the terrifying experience.

The pair was eventually spotted and rescued, thanks in part to the plane’s emergency alert system and the pilot’s communications from the crash site. Authorities are investigating the cause of the engine failure, while McDonald is being hailed for his calm under pressure and skillful water landing that saved both their lives.