In a daring nighttime rescue, helicopter pilot Anthony “Tony” Marinello airlifted 10 Americans from Haiti amid violent unrest. The mission, organized by US Congressman Cory Mills, involved Marinello, another pilot, and a Special Forces security aide. They flew to Port-au-Prince, where they landed under the cover of darkness and fear of gunfire to rescue members of the Have Faith Haiti Mission and Orphanage, including author Mitch Albom.

US Congressman Cory Mills, his Special Forces security aide, and two South Florida pilots laid their lives on the line to rescue ten Americans hiding in a safe house in Haiti. Photos courtesy of Anthony MarinelloDespite the challenges, including finding the safe house and overloading the helicopter with 14 people, they managed to escape without incident. Their return journey included stops in the Dominican Republic, Turks & Caicos, Long Island, and Nassau before finally reaching Ft. Lauderdale.

For a detailed account of this heroic mission, read the full story by Diane Phillips here.