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South Alabama Mobile Bay news
Posted: Feb 28th, '12, 23:31
by Harry Babb
Today at about 7:00 PM a Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter crashed about 2 miles off the shore of Point Clear Alabama in Mobile Bay, while on a training mission.
As of this time one of the 4 crew members has been rescued, the other 3 are still missing.
It is very common that the Coast Guard conducts training missions at night over Mobile Bay.
No one knows why the Copter went down and as I understand it, although they have found one of the crew, they still have not found the helicopter.
Heavy fog is moving in and will hinder rescue efforts later tonight.
hb
Re: South Alabama Mobile Bay news
Posted: Feb 29th, '12, 06:50
by Carl
Harry Babb wrote:
No one knows why the Copter went down
hb
Gravity.
Seriously I wish them the best of luck. Prayers go out to them and their families. I try to keep what they do in mind when boarded or pass by a crew boat...try to offer a cold drink or hot coffee when possible, at the very least a very warm howdy.
Carl
Posted: Feb 29th, '12, 07:48
by Charlie J
terrible, prayers go out to the family and members
Posted: Feb 29th, '12, 10:47
by IRGuy
Having used a 406 EPIRB to call the Coast Guard for assistance when we were dismasted about 185 miles south of Nantucket several years ago, and experienced first hand how these guys and women do their job I have the utmost respect for each of them. Even when they boarded boats I was on to do equipment checks.
Sadly, doing the risky work they do there will be tragedies such as this..
RIP guys.
Posted: Feb 29th, '12, 13:48
by Capt. DQ
Saw this on the news this morning Harry. Sad because it was foggy last night.
DQ
Posted: Feb 29th, '12, 20:20
by Bob H.
Harry, I also saw it first thing this morning...Point Clear I know where that is...I know they wont stop looking until they find them..never left behind..BH
Posted: Feb 29th, '12, 20:53
by Harry Babb
As I understand the situation,
The water depth at the crash site is 13' deep.
There were 4 people on board, the Pilot, Navigator, Mechanic and a Swimmer.
The impact was apparently nose first and the impact was hard enough that the cockpit is buried up in the mud. This makes it impossible for divers to access cockpit.
Last night only the swimmer was rescued and he later died at a local hospital.
As I know it right now the helicopter has not yet been lifted from the crash site.
I heard today that the last crash that involved an aircraft deployed from Mobile Coast Guard was 30 years ago.
hb