U.S. Satellites Helped Rescue 300 People Last Year, Including 5 on a Jet That Crashed in Water. Here's How.

March 4, 2026

TL;DR

NOAA's satellite system aided in 300 rescues in the U.S. and surrounding waters in 2025.
Of these, 183 were water rescues, including five from a jet that crashed into Oregon's Coos Bay.
The system also supported 47 aviation rescues and 70 land rescues.
Florida had the most rescues (71), followed by Alaska (28) and Wyoming (21).
Notable rescues include a stranded skier in Colorado and two sailors and their dog off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
The Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) system uses satellites to detect signals from 406 beacons.
Since 1982, SARSAT has supported over 63,000 global rescues and more than 11,190 in the U.S.

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