| Sector Detroit U.S. Coast Guard |
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| Press Release |
Date: September 4, 2007
Contact: Chief Petty Officer Robert K. Lanier |
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U.S. COAST GUARD SEARCHES FOR AIRPLANE, DETROIT - U.S. Coast Guard, state, county and local response agencies are searching for two people, this morning, after U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit was contacted at approximately 9:21 p.m., yesterday, reporting a small airplane had crashed in western Lake Erie. The report stated that the aircraft went down just east of Kelleys Island. It is believed the airplane departed from the Kelleys Island Airport.One survivor, a 7-year-old male, was recovered by a Good Samaritan who rowed out from the island in a boat to assist. He reported that his father and brother had also been on the airplane. He was transferred to a medical facility for treatment. The Coast Guard, and other state, county and local response agencies, continue to search for the remaining two passengers. Coast Guard assets include a 27- and 25-foot response boat from Station Marblehead, an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Detroit, and the cutter BRISTOL BAY, a 260-foot tug and barge based here. Additional response agencies include dive operations and surface searches by Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ottawa County Sheriff's, Put-In-Bay Police, local fire departments, and commercial salvage. Response teams have sighted and recovered some debris from the search area. Surface search crews have been working throughout the night. Additional surface searches and dive operations are scheduled to continue in the morning. Coast Guard Sector Detroit directly oversees all Coast Guard missions from Alpena, Michigan to Vermillion, Ohio on Lake Huron, the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, Lake St. Clair and Western Lake Erie. For media inquiries, contact Chief Petty Officer Robert K. Lanier, Ninth Coast Guard District Public Affairs, at (216) 214-3859. |
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