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Crews give up searching for chopper crash victims

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The Coast Guard has suspended its search for the two people who were aboard a helicopter that crashed in the Gulf of Mexico.

“It is never easy to suspend a search,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michelle Ferguson from Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. “We searched diligently with our pilots, boat crews and cutter crews but were unable to find the two men aboard the helicopter. Our condolences go out to the friends and family of the two men.”


He says they tried to find the victims.

"Coast Guard crews searched over 4,117 square-nautical miles for approximately 68 hours but were unable to find the passengers."

The crew's last known position was 13 nautical miles west of Southwest Pass, Louisiana.

"The passengers were transiting from one offshore platform to another but Panther Marine lost communications when they were 10 minutes from landing."

Involved in the search were:

    Coast Guard District Eight watchstanders    Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders    Coast Guard Cutter Sawfish crew    Coast Guard Station Grand Isle Response Boat-Medium boat crew    Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew    Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin aircrew    Coast Guard Station Venice Response Boat-Medium boat crew    Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew    Panther Marine