But even if another vessel was involved, it's hard to explain how an alert captain or watch stander would not have spotted an approaching container ship in time to make an adequate mayday call.

即便真的有其他船只牵涉进来，也很难解释为什么一位警觉的船长或值班人员都没有及时发现这样一艘正在靠近的集装箱船并发出求救信号。

youdao

I hope you have a grand time on MayDay.

我希望你在救难信号上有壮观的时间。

youdao

Pentagon officials said it was five minutes after the time of impact before the mayday call was issued, indicating the pilot was struggling to regain control of the crippled plane.

CNN: U.S. pilot struggled to regain control after collision

Conditions at the time of the crash were said to be calm and sunny and it is understood a Mayday message was issued from the helicopter before it hit the water.

BBC: 'No hope' of helicopter survivors