The Sea’s People Respond

When Alaska Airlines Flight 261 plunged into the Pacific off Port Hueneme, the response was immediate and widespread. From the latest high-tech radar gear aboard Navy anti-submarine aircraft to humble nets and hooks aboard squid fishing boats, the resources of Ventura County’s seafaring community were offered and put to work.

The Boeing MD-83 dived from 17,000 feet, straight down, hitting the choppy seas of the Santa Barbara Channel with a splash that soared 200 feet. More than 24 hours after Monday’s tragedy, there was no sign that any of the 88 passengers and crew members had survived.

But even the faintest hope was enough to fuel a remarkable search effort. “It was just an incredible response from the commercial and private boats,” Coast Guard Capt. George Wright told The Times. “It was just astounding. I watched private vessels come up to the dock carrying debris.”

The Coast Guard quickly coordinated efforts by personnel from Navy bases at nearby Point Mugu and Port Hueneme, Ventura County fire and sheriff’s forces and the county’s Office of Emergency Services, plus a flotilla of volunteers. Lessons learned in preparation for Y2K chaos that never materialized paid off in the speedy, well-coordinated response, according to Ventura County Supervisor John K. Flynn.

Searchers used powerful spotlights, night-vision goggles and infrared heat-sensing devices to scan for signs of life amid the grim flotsam. Even more important than these high-tech tools was a fundamental human desire to help however possible. Dozens of fishing and excursion vessels worked all night in 15-foot swells to salvage bits of debris, hoping for a miracle. The Coast Guard officers who led the rescue effort praised a fraternity of Ventura County boaters who sometimes compete for jobs but stand together against the perils of the sea.

On shore, those who could not help search tossed flowers into the surf and offered prayers for the missing. On Tuesday, more than 100 hotel rooms were booked for relatives of those aboard the plane, so they could be close to the search site. Psychological counselors offered support for them and rescue workers alike.

It might take months to determine what caused this plane to go down so suddenly, so violently, but the instant response of well-trained emergency personnel supported by an eager armada of volunteers did everything possible. If only there had been someone to save.