Due to an extensive search both on the water and in the air for missing crew members onboard a H-H65-C Dolphin chopper that crashed in Mobile Bay, a TFR was issued today until further notice. The crash happened around 6:30 Tuesday evening roughly two miles southwest of Point Clear.
The TFR is 5 miles diameter off on the BROOKLEY VORTAC (BFM) 155 degree radial at 11.8 nautical miles (Latitude: 30º25'40"N, Longitude: 87º58'30"W) up to and including 5,000 feet. The TFR ranges from Mon Luis Island, eastward, over to Baldwin County including Point Clear.
HH/MH-65C: Dolphin, US Coast Guard
Coast Guard Captain Don Rose, during a Wednesday morning press conference, says helicopters, several Coast Guard vessels and boats from local rescue agencies are aiding in the search. Divers with Daphne Search and Rescue and the Alabama Marine Resources are also participating.
A 57- foot salvage barge, called the Ben R. Johnson, arrived late today. On Thursday morning the crew will do an initial assessment and begin attempts to recover the fuselage. The Coast Guard is investigating how and why the helicopter went down. Only one of the four crew members has been recovered. -Staff Report, FMI: TFR, WKRG News