The two people aboard the Hayley Ann vessel are dead after the boat reportedly capsized, according to News Center Maine.
The two people, whose names have not been released, were found face down in the water by a fishing boat. They were the only people aboard the Hayley Ann.
Just before 12:30 p.m. Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard received an automated emergency signal from the boat, which was 45 miles southeast of Portland. The Coast Guard sent two helicopters, a plane and a cutter to search for the groundfishing boat. Crews discovered an empty life raft and saw the Hayley Ann sinking.
#Breaking: @USCGNortheast rescue crews are responding to an EPIRB alert 45NM SE of #PortlandME. F/V Hayley Ann reportedly has 2 people on board. An HC-144 and two MH-60 aircrews launched from AIRSTA Cape Cod to search. The cutter Steelhead is also searching.
— USCGNortheast (@USCGNortheast) January 23, 2020
A fishing vessel located the two people around 4:30 p.m., but found they were unresponsive.
Around 5:50 p.m., News Center Maine reported that the bodies were being brought back to Portland by a private fishing vessel that was in the area.
The Associated Press and CBS 13 contributed to this report.