Update 2: Coast Guard ends search for missing pilot, aircraft

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Heartland Contact: 8th District Public Affairs Office: (504) 671-2020 After Hours: (618) 225-9008 Eighth District online newsroom January 8, 2018

Update 2: Coast Guard ends search for missing pilot, aircraft

 

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard has ended the search for the missing pilot and Cirrus aircraft in the Gulf of Mexico, Monday.

The Coast Guard searched 17,458 nautical square miles for approximately 79 hours.

Missing is Bill Kinsinger, 55, of Oklahoma City.

“Ending a search is a difficult decision that we put the upmost thought and consideration into,” said Capt. David Cooper, chief of incident management, Eighth Coast Guard District. “Dr. Kinsinger was a well loved man and our hearts go out to everyone impacted during this tragic time.”

Involved in search were Coast Guard aircrews from:

-Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas

-Air Station Clearwater, Florida

-Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina

-Aviation Training Center Mobile, Alabama

The motor vessel Gas Wisdom responded to a Coast Guard request for vessels in the area to assist and searched Wednesday evening. The Mexican Naval Secretariat had two ships, the ARM Demacrato and the ARM Guanajuato, involved in the search.

Previous news releases are available here and here.

 

-USCG-