A map showing Abby Sunderland's route A rescue operation is underway after sixteen-year-old American , attempting to sail around the world by herself, lost contact with her family while in the Indian Ocean . Sunderland had been sailing amid a rough storm in the  early Thursday when her boat was flipped over. The mast broke off as a consequence. After losing contact, the teenager activated two manual , or EPIRBs, and a search-and-rescue operation was formed. As part of the operation, a Qantas Airways was sent over the ocean by Australian authorities. The plane's crew was able to make radio contact with Sunderland, and confirmed that she was not injured and that her boat was upright, but was unable to continue sailing. The closest rescue boat, a French fishing ship, was about 24 hours away from Sunderland's location when she was found, and is expected to meet her later today. She was stranded about 2000 miles (3218.7 kilometres) southwest of Australia's coast.
A map showing Abby Sunderland's route A rescue operation is underway after sixteen-year-old American , attempting to sail around the world by herself, lost contact with her family while in the . Sunderland had been sailing amid a rough storm in the Indian Ocean early Thursday when her boat was flipped over. The mast broke off as a consequence. After losing contact, the teenager activated two manual , or EPIRBs, and a search-and-rescue operation was formed. As part of the operation, a Qantas Airways was sent over the ocean by Australian authorities. The plane's crew was able to make radio contact with Sunderland, and confirmed that she was not injured and that her boat was upright, but was unable to continue sailing. The closest rescue boat, a French fishing ship, was about 24 hours away from Sunderland's location when she was found, and is expected to meet her later today. She was stranded about 2000 miles (3218.7 kilometres) southwest of Australia's coast.
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Indian Ocean
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Indian Ocean