Tue, Mar 03, 2009
One Rescued Monday, Three Others Remain Unaccounted For
The US Coast Guard Monday rescued a boater whose vessel capsized
in the Gulf of Mexico, and continues a high-profile search and
rescue mission for three others who were onboard.
Rescuers found former University of South Florida football
player Nick Schuyler about 35 miles off the coast of Florida,
clinging to the hull of a 21-foot fishing boat that reportedly
overturned during a storm Saturday. The Coast Guard continues to
search for three others: Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper,
Detroit Lions free agent Corey Smith and former University of South
Florida player William Bleakley.
Schuyler was flown via Coast Guard helicopter to Tampa General
Hospital. Coast Guard Petty Officer Robert Simpson told CNN that
Schuyler said he had been wearing a life vest at the time of the
capsizing; it's unclear whether the other three were wearing
preservers.
Coast Guard aircraft from Clearwater, FL; Miami; and Mobile, AL;
and helicopters and a C-130 Hercules from the Air Force provided an
aerial search, Coast Guard Capt. Timothy M. Close said at a news
conference Monday in St. Petersburg, FL.
Several Coast Guard ships covered the 16,000-square-mile area
from the sea. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard has narrowed its area of
focus as it continues to search for the three other men. Four Coast
Guard cutters and two Air Force helicopters are searching a 30-mile
radius around where the boat was found.
"The search is ongoing," Close said. "We're continuing to hit
this hard."
The four reportedly left Clearwater Beach on a fishing trip the
morning of February 28 and were expected to return that afternoon,
ahead of a forecasted shift in what had been clear and calm weather
conditions. A cold front struck that evening, causing strong winds
and seas that reached an estimated 14 feet.
(Aero-News thanks John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press
Service)
More News
Also: SkyReach Parts Support, Piper Service Ctr, Airliner Near-Miss, Airshow London The Judge overseeing Icon's convoluted Chapter 11 process has approved $9 million in Chapter 11 >[...]
ILS PRM Approach An instrument landing system (ILS) approach conducted to parallel runways whose extended centerlines are separated by less than 4,300 feet and at least 3,000 feet >[...]
Aero Linx: FlyPups FlyPups transports dogs from desperate situations to fosters, no-kill shelters, and fur-ever homes. We deliver trained dogs to veterans for service and companion>[...]
Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]
Also: NBAA on FAA Reauth, DJI AG Drones, HI Insurance Bill Defeated, SPSA Airtankers The Beechcraft Denali continues moving forward towards certification, having received its FAA T>[...]