HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Survivors of a downed small plane were rescued off the cost of Kona, Hawaii Friday, a search involving some of the multinational forces also participating in Rim of the Pacific 2016.

A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew hoisted the survivors at 11:35 a.m. about nine miles north of the Kona airport, a mile and half offshore.

USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), along with a Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters assigned to Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 37, an MC-130J Commando II assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan, and a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion assigned to RNZAF-5 Squadron assisted in the search for the two pilots Thursday evening after receiving a request from the Coast Guard’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu. Chung-Hoon and the P-3K2 Orion were in the area at the time training as part of RIMPAC.

The Commando II assumed on-scene commander duties, enabling search party members to communicate with each other from sea and air and allowing a speedy recovery of the two pilots.

"An important part of being a mariner is ensuring safety of life at sea,” said Cmdr. Tom Ogden, commanding officer of Chung-Hoon. “No matter if you are a U.S. destroyer, Coast Guard pilot, or a canoe paddler, you must always be ready to provide assistance. In this case, Chung-Hoon had significant capability to bring to the search including two helicopters, multiple air controllers, and over 350 Sailors ready to perform as lookouts for survivors.”

On Friday, a commercial helicopter flying along the Kona coast sighted a debris field and reported it to the Coast Guard. One of the Dolphin crews was diverted to investigate and sighted the survivors. They vectored in a second Dolphin crew with a rescue swimmer aboard to conduct the hoist. The survivors were both wearing lifejackets and were swimming toward shore at the time. The search concluded after 20 hours. Both pilots are reported to have sustained only minor injuries.

“To be successful you need everyone to contribute, and in this case that happened quickly and successfully,” said Ogden. “One common thread that connects all Sailors is their commitment to providing assistance to others in distress at sea. We spend time training for events similar to this and are glad that we were in a position to bring our training to bear in a team effort to help others who needed it. We are proud to have been part of a very professional team which quickly provided assistance with a positive outcome."

Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971.