CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas— The Coast Guard has suspended its search for the second pilot from a downed Navy T-34 training aircraft, Sunday, at approximately 7 p.m.
The Coast Guard searched an estimated 131 hours and approximately 20,900 square miles during this search and rescue case.
The Coast Guard Cutter Harry Claiborne will continue its mission of using side scanning sonar in an attempt to locate the downed T-34 aircraft. The U.S. Navy Salvage Dive Team will assist the crew of the Harry Claiborne.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi initially received a call on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, from the Navy Corpus Christi base tower at 4 p.m. reporting that an air traffic controller had lost communication with a T-34 training aircraft at approximately 3:20 p.m.
The following assets were utilized during this search and rescue effort:
- Customs and Border Protection P3 aircraft
- Texas Department of Public Safety aircraft
- Coast Guard HH-65C Dolphin helicopter
- Coast Guard HU-25 Falcon jet
- Coast Guard Station Port Aransas Response Boat-Medium
- Coast Guard Station Port O’Connor Response Boat-Small
- Coast Guard Cutter Harry Claiborne, 175-foot buoy tender
- Coast Guard Cutter Steelhead, 87-foot patrol boat
- Coast Guard Cutter Brant, 87-foot patrol boat
- Coast Guard Auxiliary aircraft
