Coast Guard rescues 4 from downed airplane

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 02/06/2018 09:37 PM EST

united states coast guard

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

February 6, 2018

Coast Guard rescues 4 from downed airplane

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard rescued four people from the Atchafalaya River approximately 17 nautical miles south of Patterson, Louisiana, Tuesday.

Watchstanders at the Eighth Coast Guard District command center received notification from the Federal Aviation Administration at 4:59 p.m. that a Piper PA-34 twin-engine airplane traveling from Slidell, Lousiana, to Patterson with four people on board was low on fuel.

The airplane pilot shut down the engines to conserve fuel and was forced to make an emergency landing.

Watchstanders directed the launch of an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans.

The Air Station New Orleans aircrew hoisted the survivors and transported them to Perry’s Flying Center in Patterson, Louisiana.

One person suffered a minor injury to the arm.

-USCG-