Airmen from Patrick Air Force Base halted training Tuesday night to rescue four people who were hurt in an airboat crash in the St. John's River.

Brevard County Fire Rescue said the crash happened west of Interstate 95 near the Sweetwater Boat Ramp at 7:10 p.m.

A caller told 911 dispatchers the airboat hit a tree and then flipped over. The caller said a man in his 50s was thrown from the boat when it crashed.

The Brevard County sheriff's department launched a rescue mission with the help of the 920th Rescue Wing.

The airmen landed a Pave Hawk helicopter on a small piece of land in the middle of a swamp, according to authorities.

Three people on the airboat were taken by the helicopter to Holmes Regional Medical Center.  A fourth person was taken by ground to the hospital.

"It was nice to be able to help," said Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th Rescue Wing commander, who piloted the Pave Hawk.

Earlier Tuesday, the wing welcomed home 70 Rescue Airmen from Afghanistan.  Those Airmen are credited with 490 combat rescues.

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