Incident Details
A commercial pilot with 7,498 hours of flight experience departed an unmanned offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico, carrying two passengers. The helicopter was en route to a private heliport in Louisiana. The pilot was required to make position reports every 30 minutes but failed to do so. No distress calls were received from the pilot.
Search Efforts
When the required reports were not made, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) initiated a search. No debris from the helicopter was ever located. The USCG ceased search and rescue efforts four days after the disappearance was reported. Following the cessation of official efforts, the operator continued searching by flying over the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, looking for any debris that may have washed ashore. Additionally, an All-Notification was issued to vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico to be on the lookout.
Current Status
As of the time of this report, the helicopter remains missing. No wreckage or debris has been found, and the fate of the pilot and passengers is unknown.