February 12, 2016
NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard suspended its search for the missing crew of a downed aircraft off Henderson Beach near Destin, Florida, at approximately 10 p.m. Thursday.
Okaloosa County and Walton County Sheriff’s Departments assumed the lead for the incident. Watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at approximately 8 p.m. that a single engine aircraft crashed into the water about half a mile off Henderson Beach. They directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Destin 45-foot Response Boat—Medium boatcrew and an Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew.