According to the US Coast Guard, a helicopter carrying three people crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, killing one and leaving two on top of the sunken ship.
It happened around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, about 45 miles off Morgan City, Louisiana, the Coast Guard said in a news release.
Rescuers arrived after the helicopter “turned upside down” in the water, with flotation devices on and a life raft deployed, officials said.
“Two of the three crew members were airlifted and taken to University Medical Center New Orleans in critical condition,” the Coast Guard said.
“The body of the third crew member was in the sunken helicopter.”
The identities of the three have not been released.
The crash was reported by Westwind Helicopter Inc., which confirmed that “the company’s helicopter crashed in the Gulf of Mexico with three people on board.”
Westwind serves the energy industry in the Gulf of Mexico region by providing “flight services for exploitation of oil and gas on land and at sea,,” according to its website.
The cause of the crash has not been disclosed. An investigation is underway, officials said.
“We are grateful that we were able to save two crew members, but are saddened by the loss of the third,” said Coast Guard Cmdr. Sean D. George said in a release.
“We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the crew members at this difficult time.”
