Channel Island Air Search stepped in - and took off - to help when several large milk containers fell overboard from a ship passing through the Channel this week. The final one was recovered near Alderney.
There were seven containers lost overboard in total - with six being retrieved shortly afterwards.
John Fitzgerald of the CIAS said that the last one couldn't be seen, so the volunteer search and rescue crew were asked to take to the sky to help find it.
"As it posed a risk to shipping, we were asked if we could look in the area generated by the Search and Rescue software used by the maritime agencies," he explained.
"The crew found it quite quickly and reported its position to Cross Jobourg. They sent a small vessel to attach a beacon so that it could be tracked until as suitable vessel could collect it."
Guernsey Coastguard had asked CIAS to help out after being asked for support by CROSS Jobourg - the French maritime safety and security monitoring body.
Assistant Harbour Master Mike Harris said the incident had been reported by the ship to French authorities who then asked a French Naval unit to try and locate the tanks.
"The vessel subsequently located one of the tanks late on 4 December but due to prevailing conditions and the darkness, it lost site of the object sometime in early hours of 5 December," explained Mr Harris.
"At about 10:30 on 5 December the French Coastguard requested that Guernsey Coastguard launch the Channel Island Airsearch (CIAS) aircraft to try and re-locate the milk tank which it did at about 12:45 that same day.
"The position was transmitted back to the French Coastguard who re-tasked a French vessel to recover the tank."
Mr Harris said the French authorities believe that all the other tanks may have sunk.
CIAS Search Crew Manager and Accountable Manager, Mr Fitzgerald said that there was no charge levied for this mission, as the CIAS does not ever charge for its call outs "...as we don’t want people to call any of the SAR services with the thought that they might have to pay".
He also added that "the French assets will help the Channel Islands at no cost if needed" when roles are reversed and the islands or individuals need help at sea.
With the CIAS annual running costs estimated to be around £300,000, the charity is always open to fundraising ideas and donations.
There are two fundraising teams - the Guernsey Friends and the Jersey Friends of CIAS - which both organise and support fundraising events throughout the year.
Recent fundraising events in Guernsey have included the 2023 Runway Run, and the Annual Draw.
That Draw took place on Tuesday evening with the winning ticket numbers being 0684, 1470, 0414, 0241, 0056, 0840 and 0849 (top prize).
The Guernsey Friends of CIAS said "profits from the sale of tickets make a valuable contribution towards the operating costs of Air Search, which amount to around £300,000 annually. Thank you for helping to keep the eyes in the sky."
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