One dead, two rescued by Coast Guard after helicopter crash

One person died and the Coast Guard rescued two others Wednesday after a helicopter went down in the Gulf of Mexico near Atchafalaya Bay, the Coast Guard reported.

A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans Jayhawk aircrew rescued the two crewmembers from the Westwind helicopter, which had flotation devices and a life raft deployed. The reported position of the downed helicopter, which went down about 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, was 46 miles from Morgan City.

Coast Guard District Eight watchstanders had received a call confirming a helicopter went down in the Gulf of Mexico with three people aboard. Sector New Orleans watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast while District Eight watchstanders coordinated the launch of the Jayhawk aircrew and a U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Training Center HC-144 aircrew to assist.

A good Samaritan responded to the broadcast and reported the two crewmembers were in a lifeboat. WWL in New Orleans reported that the craft that responded to the broadcast
was the oil rig crew boat Captain Ron.

"We're grateful we were able to save two crewmembers but saddened from the loss of the third," said Lt. Cmdr. Sean DiGeorge, a District Eight search and rescue mission coordinator, "We'd like to extend our deepest sympathies to the crewmembers' family and friends during this difficult time."

The two survivors were hoisted and transferred to Houma Terrebonne Airport. The survivors were transferred to another MH-60T before being delivered to University Medical Center New Orleans and were last reported to be in critical condition,.

The Coast Guard listed these members of the rescue team:

Congratulations to LT Fonville for his first right seat hoist!
MH-60 Hoisting Crew:
AST2 Hoefle
AMT2 Goetsch
LT Fonville
LT Thomas
MH-60 Transport Crew:
AMT2 Monahan
AST2 Bridges
AMT2 Mize
LT Connell
CDR Koser