3rd body recovered from Gulf following helicopter crash--SE Texas

KFDM TV- Beaumont, Tx ^ | 12-11-08 | Scott Lawrence

[deport]

Justice of the Peace Tom Gillam tells KFDM News a third body has been recovered from the Gulf and the search continues for two other people who were on a helicopter that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, south of Sabine Pass.

Petty Officer Renee Aiello tells KFDM News the helicopter was reported down at 9:47 a.m. Thursday about two miles off the coast of Sabine Pass. She says the call came into the 8th District Operations Center in New Orleans from Rotorcraft, a helicopter leasing company. Aiello says the helicopter pilot had not checked in as scheduled. Aiello says reports indicate a pilot and four passengers were on board.

Coast Guard Air Station Houston launched an MH-65 rescue helicopter crew and sent a boat crew from Station Sabine. The cutter Heron also responded. The helicopter rescue crew found one body shortly before noon, and found a second body at about 1:30 p.m. in the same area near the site of the crash. Gillam says a third body was recovered at about 3:30 p.m. The search continues for the two other people who were on board.

Coast Guard crews have spotted debris from the helicopter.

The helicopter was heading to an unmanned oil platform about 18 miles into the Gulf.

"We know there was an event that took place; we're still in the process of searching," said Gerald Golden, director of operations for Rotorcraft Leasing Co. LLC, of Broussard, La. "Once we learn anything, we'll be in a position to give more details."

The air temperature was about 36 degrees, with water temperatures at 62 degrees around the time of the crash, said Donovan Landreneau, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, La. Wind was blowing from the west at 23 knots, and there was a small craft advisory in effect.

A spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington said investigators would work with the Federal Aviation Administration to determine the cause of the crash.

Stay with KFDM News for live coverage and the latest on the storty.

[deport]

Are you hearing anything about this event? It happened earlier in the day. The snow, etc. had ceased here in East Tx but there were fairly strong winds still blowing.

[trumandogz]

God Bless their Souls.

I have taken many helicopter rides out to platforms in the Gulf.

[basil]

So sorry to hear about this. I grew up in Beaumont, and know how hard these oil well service people work.

Prayers for all involved and their families.

[Aggie Mama]

I’m so glad my husband doesn’t have to take those rides anymore.

[deport]

Not much info on this event which apparently happened about 9:47 am. I don’t know if the ‘copter departed from Sabine Pass or some other location. If Sabine Pass then it didn’t get far before going down. However Sabine Pass was very torn up by Ike so I don’t know how much of the off shore facilities are still intack down there.

I was hoping Thackney may have some additional info.

[basil]

I haven't been back down there since Ike--but every time I think of my old stomping grounds, I get almost teary-eyed. I also spent many happy years on Galveston Island at UTMB--got my nursing degree there and stayed on a while afterwards to work. We just about owned that end of the island in those years.

One of my favorite places to go for a lazy spring afternoon picnic was Port Bolivar. I was fascinated by the old lighthouse there.

[thackney]

No, thanks for the ping but I was out of contact yesterday.

[deport]

You may not recognize a lot of the following depending upon how long it's been since you've been in Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsular. The following two links have pictures galore if you want to look at some to see the damage.

The following link covers the Island, Kemah, Bolivar, etc and is mostly still shots from many different sources with one aerial group shot by Hugh Kelly of Allied Elec., Bmt.

http://www.tpicks.com/pictures%20people%20have%20sent%20me.html

The following link is the one I like best as it's an aerial panoramic view of the Peninsula from High Island west along Hwy 87 to the Ferry at Galveston. You can pick and choose the areas along the Peninsular and view the landscape from different prospectives.

http://www.hawkeyemedia.com/bolivar/default.asp

Enjoy.........