Coast Guard suspends search for missing plane in Lake Pontchartrain

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for a missing aircraft in Lake Pontchartrain, Thursday.

Coast Guard officials received a call from the New Orleans International Airport air traffic control tower at approximately 8:30 p.m Wednesday reporting a missing Cessna 172 with two people aboard.

“The Coast Guard has searched the 161 square-mile area 13 times over the past 20 hours,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mark Molavi. “We would like to extend our sympathies to the families during this difficult time.”

The search is suspended, pending further developments, the Coast Guard said in a press statement.

Student instructor flight goes missing in New Orleans

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a report of a missing aircraft in Lake Ponchartrain, Wednesday.

The Coast Guard received a call from the New Orleans International Airport air traffic control tower at approximately 8:30 p.m., reporting a missing Cessna 172 with two people aboard.

The aircraft was last seen on radar one mile northeast of the Lakefront Airport. The flight was reported to be a student instructor flight.

The Coast Guard responded by issuing an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and deploying a 45-foot Response Boat - Medium crew from Coast Guard Station New Orleans and a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans.

The Coast Guard is working together with Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, the Houston Air Traffic Control Center and Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office to search for the two missing persons.

Coast Guard helicopter crew aids search for missing man in Texas boat collision

The U.S. Coast Guard, Port Arthur Fire Department and Jefferson County Sheriff's Department are searching for a 56-year-old man after his pleasure craft collided with a tug boat and barge about 500 feet west of Goat Island in Sabine Lake, Sunday.

Missing is John Tran of Bridge City, Texas.

The captain of tug Father Seelos contacted Vessel Traffic Service Port Arthur at approximately 3:30 p.m. EDT notifying them of the collision.

Coast Guard crewmembers are currently searching for the man aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Houston, and Station Sabine Pass's 25-foot Response Boat and 24-foot Special Purpose Craft. The Port Arthur Fire Department dive team and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Marine Division are also searching.

[UPDATE - 9:32 p.m. EDT - Tuesday] - Deputies said late Monday they had found the body of John Tran, a fisherman who went missing after his boat and a barge collided. [Source: KHOU.com]

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