3 castaways rescued after spelling 'help' with palm leaves on remote island

Three castaways were rescued on Thursday after a U.S Navy aircraft spotted the word ‘help’ spelled out with palm leaves on the beach of a remote Pacific Island, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The three men, who were not identified, were reported missing by family members on Monday when they failed to catch a flight on the Micronesian island of Chuuk, according to U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman, Melissa McKenzie.

The group reportedly were taking a skiff from between two Micronesian islands when something went awry.

"When they did not arrive for the flight, Coast Guard was notified," U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Michael McCandless told NBC. "We began coordination efforts, using a combination of assets. It was determined a Navy P-8 aircraft out of Japan would assist."

Four ships combed the area where the skiff was last reported until  a U.S. Navy P-8 aircraft from Misawa Air Base arrived on the scene and began searching the area from above, the coast guard said in a statement. 

The three men and their "makeshift sign" were spotted on Thursday and transported to a nearby island, McKenzie said.

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