The Portuguese Air Force has rescued 22 crew members from a burning cargo ship transporting 4,000 Porsches and Lamborghinis to the USA.

The rescue operation took place off the Azores archipelago when the ‘Felicity Ace’ cargo ship caught ablaze at sea on 16th February.

The Portuguese Air Force rescued 22 crew members onboard the Panamanian-flagged merchant ship after the blaze started in the vessel’s cargo hold in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

A Portuguese Navy spokesperson told local media: “The 22 rescued crew members were taken to a hotel on the island of Faial.”

The cargo ship was carrying 4,000 Porsche, Lamborghini, Audi and Volkswagen cars when the fire was reported.

The crew abandoned the vessel and was taken onboard the Resilient Warrior tanker after it diverted its route to assist with the rescue.

The 22 workers were then evacuated from the area in a military helicopter in two groups of 11 and taken to Faial Island.

The cargo ship crew was safely taken ashore without requiring any medical assistance.

The vessel, which regularly transports cars across the seas, was due to arrive in the USA on 23rd February.

A Porsche spokesperson said: “Our immediate thoughts are of the 22 crew of the merchant ship Felicity Ace, all of whom we understand are safe and well as a result of their rescue by the Portuguese Navy following reports of a fire on board.

“We believe a number of our cars are among the cargo onboard the ship. No further details of the specific cars affected are available at this time – we are in close contact with the shipping company and will share more information in due course.”

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.