Crew Rescued From Ship Listing Near Aleutians

Only 10 minutes elapsed from when a cargo ship carrying 5,000 vehicles began listing in rough north Pacific seas until it was almost lying on its side, said a volunteer who spoke with some of those rescued by helicopter.

The 23 crew members were airlifted Monday night by the Coast Guard and state National Guard to Adak Island, 230 miles north.

A 41-year-old man from Myanmar with a broken ankle was flown to Anchorage, where he was listed in good condition Tuesday, authorities said. The rest of the Cougar Ace’s crew arrived there later Tuesday.

The ship was caught in rain squalls and 8- to 10-foot seas when it began to list. The ship was carrying 474 tons of fuel oil and 123 tons of diesel fuel, and it wasn’t clear how much had spilled into the sea.