Officials release name of pilot in Saturday’s crash
July 21, 2004
LAFAYETTE — A pilot missing since his helicopter crashed Saturday morning in the Gulf of Mexico has been identified as Edwin Dixon, of Nederland, Texas, according to his employer.
Officials didn’t release the name until relatives could be notified. The helicopter went down in the Gulf south of Cameron Parish while Dixon was returning to shore.
The U.S. Coast Guard called off its search on Sunday, but the company that owned the helicopter, Rotorcraft Leasing in Broussard, is continuing to search for the man’s body and wreckage.
“It’s like looking for a needle in haystack,” said Rotorcraft general manager Gerry Golden.
A dive boat and a boat equipped with sonar equipment are searching the area where the helicopter is believed to have gone down, Golden said. He said Dixon has flown with Rotorcraft since 2000.
“He was a very experienced guy,” Dixon said.
Federal safety investigators are just beginning the work of trying to determine what caused the crash. A report on the incident isn’t expected for several months.
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