A P-8A Poseidon crew located missing boats in Fijian and Kiribati waters. Photo: Supplied / NZDF
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has rescued eight people in two missing boats the middle of the Pacific.
It said a P-8A Poseidon spotted a wayward boat on its way to Fiji to refuel.
On discovering the vessel, it said they were in touch with Fiji's Navy which staged the rescue of five people, who the RNZAF said are all homeward bound.
"The quick response to the diversion request and successful rescue was a credit to the aircraft crew," the RFNS Savenaca ship's company and Maritime New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre, acting air component commander group Captain Brett Clayton said.
"Thanks to the professionalism and readiness of the personnel involved in the air, on the sea and on land, the sailors on this vessel will make it home to their families."
A P-8A Poseidon crew located missing boats in Fijian and Kiribati waters. Photo: Supplied / NZDF
The aircraft had been out on a separate rescue mission in Kiribati. The Air Force said it had rescued another three people on a small boat shortly after.
"The fishers had got into trouble with an engine issue on Wednesday."
It makes for the second publicly shared kiwi rescue in the Pacific this year, after a navy ship spotted two Tongan fisherman lost for nearly a week.
The men were found floating in a small wooden boat after departing Tongatapu ten days ago.
