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During the rescue of the Selendang Ayu, pilots of an HH-60 Jayhawk skillfully hover above the flight deck of Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley during a bad storm in the Bering Sea. Despite rough seas, strong winds and heavy snowfall the pilots manage to maintain it's position over the rolling and pitching Cutter without colliding into it. Very impressive piloting.

During attempts to save the last 8 crewmembers, Coast Guard CGNR 6020, an HH-60J from Air Station Kodiak was engulfed by a rogue wave that broke over the bow of the ship. When its engines flamed out from ingesting water, the Jayhawk crashed into the sea. Seven crew members from the ship had been hoisted into the aircraft. Another helicopter, the HH-65B Dolphin from the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley recovered the three-man Coast Guard crew and one of the crewmembers from the ship that had been on the aircraft. Later that night, the HH-65B returned to recover the Coast Guard rescue swimmer and ship's master from the Selendang Ayu, which had broken in half during their absence. The crew of this aircraft, CGNR 6513, would all be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their actions. The Coast Guard searched for the remaining crew until their efforts were called off on December 10.