Helicopter crashes in Atchafalaya Basin

Staff and Wire Reports
A helicopter went down in the Atchafalaya Basin in Iberia Parish Wednesday afternoon while reportedly performing a pipeline survey.
Searchers have found the aircraft, but not the pilot or passengers if any as of press time this morning.
Though initially thought to be a military flight, later information from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office clarified that the helicopter was “civilian” but KATC reports that it was registered with the FAA to Gulf Coast Helicopters Inc. of Pearland, Texas.
Iberia Parish Chief Criminal Deputy Richard Hazelwood says the aircraft was scheduled to refuel in Patterson, Louisiana, about 12:30 p.m., but never arrived. He says the civil air patrol began a search for the overdue helicopter about 2 p.m. and his office was notified about the missing aircraft about 7 p.m.
He said deputies from Iberia and St. Mary Parish sheriff’s offices were involved in the search, along with state wildlife personnel and the U.S. Coast Guard.