Four People Still Missing After Thursday Helicopter Crash in Gulf
Dec. 30—The U.S. Coast Guard found small parts of a helicopter that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico Thursday morning about 10 miles off the mouth of the Mississippi River's Southwest Pass, but had not located the four people who were aboard.
One passenger was identified by his wife, Lacy Scarborough, as David Scarborough, 36, an offshore oil worker who was returning after a two-week shift, according to the Sun Herald of Biloxi. They are residents of Lizana, Mississippi, northwest of Biloxi, and are expecting a baby soon, the paper reported.
The identity of the pilot and other passengers were not released.
The helicopter was supposed to be heading to shore from an oil platform owned by Walter Oil & Gas Co., and it crashed into the water just after taking off, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Jose Hernandez. Witnesses said they saw the aircraft hit the helicopter pad then tumble into the water, WLOX televison reported.
Hernandez said the Coast Guard was notified at 8:40 a.m. The Coast Guard dispatched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from New Orleans and a small boat from its Venice station on Thursday morning to search for the helicopter and missing people in the Gulf near the Walter platform, Hernandez said.
Walter Oil, which has its corporate offices in Houston, did not immediately respond to a request for additional information about the accident.
Hernandez said the helicopter was owned by Rotorcraft Leasing Co., based in Broussard.
On Dec. 15, another of Rotorcraft's helicopters crashed about 30 miles offshore of Terrebonne Bay, and all three people aboard were rescued by the Coast Guard, with only minor injuries reported.
Rotorcraft did not immediately respond to requests for more information about Thursday's accident.
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