Emergency crews on Thursday rescued all 17 miners stuck in an elevator 900 feet underground at a central New York salt mine, officials said.

By 8:40 a.m. ET, the 17 men were hoisted to safety following the "major rescue" over nearly 11 hours at the Cargill Salt Mines in Lansing.

Shawn Wilczynski, Cargill's mine manager, said at a news conference that the miners had just started their shift late Wednesday when a steel beam linked to the two-level elevator appeared to break, halting operations.

A crane was brought in to assist with extricating the miners, according to the Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response. It said the trapped workers had been given radios and supplies.

Wilczynski said the men, ranging in ages from their 20s to their 60s, stayed positive. "As is typical with them, (they were) joking, sharing stories, having a good time with each other," he added.

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