Mar 24, 2026 · 55 min
Major Pete Wright and Warrant Officer Greg Hudson take us inside the opening hours of the MSC Baltic III rescue, one of the most challenging search and rescue missions in recent Canadian history. On the morning of February 15, 2025, the cargo ship MSC Baltic III lost power in a violent winter storm off Newfoundland's west coast. With winds exceeding 120 km/h, massive waves, and reports of multiple injuries aboard, Rescue 901 launched into worsening conditions knowing time was running out. Join us as Pete and Greg walk through the mission from the initial mayday call to the race across Newfoundland, the planning and preparation taking place inside the CH-149 Cormorant, and the moment they discovered the vessel had already run aground. They discuss the challenges of operating in extreme weather, adapting to rapidly changing information, and the decisions that set the stage for the rescue to come. This is the story of the scramble, the transit, and the race against time. CONTINUE THE FLIGHT In Part 1, Pete Wright and Greg Hudson share their paths into the SAR community, the experiences that shaped them, and the lessons that prepared them for one of the most demanding missions of their careers. https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes/sar-the-msc-baltic-iii-part-1-pete-wright-and-greg-hudson In Part 3, Pete and Greg walk through the rescue itself, including the hoisting operation, evacuating all 20 sailors from the grounded vessel, and the lessons learned from the mission. https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes/sar-the-msc-baltic-iii-part-3-pete-wright-and-greg-hudson HEAR MORE SAR EPISODES https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/search?query=sar EXPLORE THE LOGBOOK More stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes