NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard medevaced an injured passenger from a helicopter crash in a marsh area near Bayou Penchant, La., after a helicopter went down at approximately 3 p.m. today.
The Eighth Coast Guard District Command Center in New Orleans received a call from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) in Langley, Va., at approximately 3:30 p.m. reporting that they received a call from PHI, a civilian helicopter company, that they received a distress call from one of their helicopters, with nine people aboard, and the AFRCC requested Coast Guard assistance.
The Coast Guard launched a HH-65C rescue helicopter and crew from Air Station New Orleans to the scene. Terrebone Parish Sheriff’s Department personnel were also on scene. One passenger was located by the Coast Guard and medevaced to the Hebert Medical Center in Houma, La. Eight deceased passengers were recovered by the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Department.
The condition of the medevaced passenger is unknown and the cause of the incident is unknown at this time.
