3rd body recovered from Gulf following helicopter crash

   Justice of the Peace Tom Gillam tells KFDM News a third body has been recovered from the Gulf and the search continues for two other people who were on a helicopter that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, south of Sabine Pass.  

  Petty Officer Renee Aiello tells KFDM News the helicopter was reported down at 9:47 a.m. Thursday about two miles off the coast of Sabine Pass.  She says the call came into the 8th District Operations Center in New Orleans from Rotorcraft, a helicopter leasing company.  Aiello says the helicopter pilot had not checked in as scheduled.   Aiello says reports indicate a pilot and four passengers were on board.

Coast Guard Air Station Houston launched an MH-65 rescue helicopter crew and sent a boat crew from Station Sabine.  The cutter Heron also responded.  The helicopter rescue crew found one body shortly before noon, and found a second body at about 1:30 p.m. in the same area near the site of the crash.  Gillam says a third body was recovered at about 3:30 p.m.  The search continues for the two other people who were on board. 

Coast Guard crews have spotted debris from the helicopter.

The helicopter was heading to an unmanned oil platform about 18 miles into the Gulf.

"We know there was an event that took place; we're still in the process of searching," said Gerald Golden, director of operations for Rotorcraft Leasing Co. LLC, of Broussard, La. "Once we learn anything, we'll be in a position to give more details."

The air temperature was about 36 degrees, with water temperatures at 62 degrees around the time of the crash, said Donovan Landreneau, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, La. Wind was blowing from the west at 23 knots, and there was a small craft advisory in effect.

A spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington said investigators would work with the Federal Aviation Administration to determine the cause of the crash.

Stay with KFDM News for live coverage and the latest on the story.