I don't think the military sits around hoping for fate and luck and divine intervention. I'd bet this was planned in detail. The only open item was when the time would be right to implement it.
Both the WH and military are scrambling to put the correct PR spin on the story and not step on each others toes.
Makes sense, if they're main concern is figuring out how to spin it to give Obama the credit.
How did they ever plan the time for the captain to jump out of the life boat?