Star Telegram Report:
Coast Guard rescues crew of downed helicopter
Associated Press:
FREEPORT, Texas - The Coast Guard rescued four crew members of a downed helicopter Friday, 18 miles south of Freeport in the Gulf of Mexico.
The helicopter, owned by Go Helo Trans, went down sometime before 5:30 p.m. Three of the four crew members climbed into a life raft after they landed in the water, and the pilot attempted to swim to the nearest oil rig, officials said.
Go Helo Trans called to let the Coast Guard know their helicopter was overdue, but a pilot in another aircraft already had seen the life raft and notified a dispatcher at Scholes Airport in Galveston, who in turn notified the Coast Guard.
A Coast Guard helicopter found the life raft and lowered a rescue swimmer to check on the crew. A small boatfrom the Coast Guard's Freeport station immediately searched for and found the pilot.
Two of the crewmembers were airlifted to Brazosport, where an EMS ambulance awaited. The other two crew members were taken to Freeport by boat.
The pilot suffered minor injuries, officials said. Condition of the others was not immediately known.
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