A group of 12 researchers stranded on one of the most remote islands in the Pacific Ocean will have to wait until tomorrow to be rescued. They were supposed to leave Saturday when their plane—the only one on the island—broke down.  

Palmyra Island is located about 1,000 miles southwest of Hawaii. It is a protected national wildlife refuge owned by the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii.  

"They've been there a week and it's time to get off and they have commitments to move onto," Nature Conservancy Director Suzanne Case told ABC. "They are taking it very well. They know that we are moving forward in a safe and calculating way to find an alternative aircraft to transport them."  

Pacific Air Charters out of Honolulu International Airport is fitting a twin engine Cesna with a removable 75-gallon fuel tank, according to the Associated Press. That plane will land on nearby Christmas Island and ferry the researchers off in two trips.  

According to reports, the island has only a coral runway, which is very hard on a jet engine plane. The rescue plane will also need propellers.  

A spokesperson for the airport says so far, their biggest problem has been meeting the guidelines of the Federal Aviation Administration.  

The researchers are made up of a team of conservatory trustees from Louisiana. According to reports, Palmyra is outfitted with electricity, cabins and plenty of supplies.