A coordinated response united three national services—the Navy, the Civil Guard, and the Marine Rescue Service—as they mobilized around the Canal de Menorca to resolve the fate of the sailing vessel Makan Angin, a nine-meter craft that had vanished from radar while traversing the Channel Minorca. On board were a German father and son, ages 50 and 19, who disappeared 48 hours earlier. Early Sunday morning, the pair had left Cala Galdana, heading for Cala d’Or. Moments after departing the Menorcan docks, their signal faded, and the search began in earnest. Three helicopters from the participating agencies hovered overhead, while divers from the Special Underwater Activities Group (GEAS) prepared for underwater assessment. The patrol boat Rio Gállego, along with Salvamar Mimosa and Salvamar Markab, augmented the maritime aspect of the operation as teams scanned the waters from multiple angles.
Around ten o’clock in the morning, the German pair set sail from the Cala Galdana pier toward Cala d’Or in mild weather. As the day unfolded, forecasts warned of an approaching storm—an array of violent weather events with potential and real danger. Before setting sail, the father had a brief phone call with a friend in Germany; after that moment, there was no further contact. The silence from the vessel, with no messages or calls, heightened concern among family and authorities, fueling the urgency of the search. The sea remained tranquil for a time, contrasting with the looming climatic threat on the horizon, a reminder of how quickly conditions can change at sea.
By six-thirty in the evening on Sunday, with still no contact, a close German friend of the crew alerted Emergency Services to the missing boat. The trail had faded entirely from the Canal de Menorca, leaving responders to piece together the last known movements and possible search patterns. Initial efforts prioritized surface reconnaissance and radio coordination to establish a coherent search grid, while nearby assets monitored for anomalies in surface patterns or debris that might indicate the vessel’s location. The response underscored rapid coordination across agencies, ensuring information was shared in real time and resources could be positioned to maximize detection chances. The incident illustrated the delicate balance between maritime routine operations and emergency response, where trained teams must shift from observation to rapid, decisive action within a few hours.
From Sunday into Monday, Marine Rescue deployed Salvamar Mimosa and Salvamar Markab, aided by the Helimer 220 helicopter for aerial reconnaissance. Despite a robust morning effort on Monday, the search did not reveal any sign of the vessel or its occupants. By Tuesday, Civil Guards joined the operation, contributing additional patrol strength aboard the Rio Gállego and providing GEAS divers for potential underwater examination. The Navy’s sailing units around the Menorca Canal remained engaged, maintaining an around-the-clock presence to monitor the waters and respond to any new information. The coordinated effort reflected a layered rescue strategy: surface boats and aerial units for broad sweeps, strong underwater capabilities for near-shore assessment, and persistent human vigilance from teams on the water and in the air. Even in moments of uncertainty, the collective action underscored a shared commitment to locating the missing sailors and ensuring safety for all who depend on these essential maritime services.
In the days that followed, the operation maintained a steady tempo, adapting to evolving weather conditions and the information gathered from ongoing sweeps. The multi-agency approach ensured that data flowed quickly between surface crews, air support, and underwater specialists, allowing for swift reallocation of assets as new leads appeared. The Makan Angin case highlighted how civil and military units can coordinate across national lines to address maritime emergencies, a model that resonates with coast-station routines and rescue protocols seen across North America. The emphasis remained on a comprehensive search that could cover surface visibility, sonar or debris indicators, and underwater footprints, while also keeping families informed and authorities aligned on the next steps. The overarching goal stayed constant: to locate the missing sailors, learn what happened, and maintain public confidence in safety systems that guard seaways for travelers and commerce alike. The event stands as a testament to the resilience and readiness of maritime rescue networks, whose rapid response and cross-agency collaboration can make the difference when the sea tests everyone involved.