Advertiser Staff

The Coast Guard today launched a C-130 plane to search for three men lost in stormy seas near Midway since yesterday afternoon, according to a Coast Guard official.

The Coast Guard received a call at about noon saying three men had fallen overboard from their 492-foot container ship, said Petty Officer Chris Johnson. The men were not wearing life vests, Johnson said.

The container ship couldn’t stay on scene because it was being battered by waves that measured at least 20 feet, he said. A passing ship tried to rescue one of the men, but lost him under the waves.

Another ship was scheduled to arrive near the scene today and help search, Johnson said.

The C-130 plane left Hawai‘i at 4 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive at the scene at 11 a.m. The plane can drop life rafts, safety equipment, radio and food, Johnson said. Midway is about 900 miles northwest of O‘ahu.