A routine flight turned into one of Central Florida’s strangest rescue stories last week when a helicopter made an emergency landing on a small island in the middle of Lake Jesup and wound up hitching a ride on an airboat. The chopper’s crew, surrounded by a lake known for its oversized alligators, climbed aboard the airboat and made it back to shore without anyone getting hurt. Photos and videos of the whole scene have since been making the rounds online.
Airboat Crew Turns Tour Boat Into Rescue Rig
Captain Derrick Lockhart, a manager at Midway Airboat Rides, said he got a call about a helicopter that had to set down after mechanical trouble and quickly headed for the island with his crew. According to FOX 35 Orlando, Lockhart chose his airboat, the "Green Mamba," then pulled off the front railing so there would be room for the aircraft. With about 14 people pitching in and using wood pilings as makeshift rollers, they inched the roughly 1,500‑pound helicopter about 75 yards to the water’s edge and onto the bow of the boat.
Storms Moving In, Chopper Heading Out
The overloaded-looking airboat then ferried the helicopter and its occupants to a nearby launch as storms moved in over the lake, as reported by WFTV. The station estimated the aircraft’s weight at up to 1,700 pounds and described the spectacle as “probably a once‑in‑a‑lifetime event.” Everyone involved made it back to dry land safely.
Gator Country With A Busy Boat Lane
Lake Jesup sits in Seminole County between Sanford and Winter Springs and is part of the St. Johns River watershed, according to the St. Johns River Water Management District. The lake is a regular run for airboat tours and is well known locally for its heavy alligator presence, something operators, including Airboat Rides at Midway, regularly remind visitors about.
Viral Photos, No Injuries
FOX 35 Orlando reports that Lockhart later posted photos and video of the extraction to social media and called the airboat‑helicopter combo a “once‑in‑a‑lifetime experience.” Authorities have not reported any injuries linked to the emergency landing or the rescue, and local coverage says a mechanical issue on the helicopter prompted the unscheduled stop. No formal investigation details were available in the reports.
