Missing N.L. fishing crew found safe, returning home

Image of a boat at dock with Elite Navigator written on side
The crew members of the Elite Navigator have been found safe, according to Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey. (Cody Rodgers/Facebook)

The crew of the Elite Navigator, the fishing vessel missing since Wednesday, has been found safe.

The fishing vessel went missing off the northeast coast of Newfoundland, with the boat’s last known location about 300 kilometres northeast of Gander.

Premier Andrew Furey posted to social media around 1 a.m. Saturday that search and rescue efforts had been a success.

“Our entire province is so relieved to hear the crew members of the Elite Navigator have been found and are returning to safety to their families, who have been waiting so anxiously for this good news,” Furey posted. “Thank you to all the dedicated people involved in the search and rescue effort.”

The missing vessel has a crew of seven. Five are from New-Wes-Valley, one is from Centreville-Wareham-Trinity and another from the Gander Bay region.

A significant fog bank about 15 nautical miles [about 28 kilometres] off the coast complicated search efforts on Thursday.

 Search efforts expanded Friday.

Four coast guard vessels, as well as a Cormorant helicopter and Hercules aircraft helped in the search. PAL Airlines also used sensors in fly-overs to try to locate the boat, and a number of fishing vessels also joined in.

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