CG airlifts 4 from downed aircraft

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard rescued four people from an airplane traveling from Slidell about 17 nautical miles south of Patterson in the Atchafalaya River on Feb. 6. The Eighth Coast Guard District command center received notification from the Federal Aviation Administration at about 5 p.m. that a Piper PA-34 twin-engine airplane traveling from Slidell with four people on board was low on fuel. The aircraft's pilot shut down the engines to conserve fuel and was forced to make an emergency landing. The CG launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from CG Air Station New Orleans. The aircrew hoisted the survivors and transported them to Perry’s Flying Center in Patterson. One person suffered a minor injury. (Source: Coast Guard 02/06/18)