Cause of Gulf helicopter crash unknown

Two men were pulled out of the Gulf of Mexico on November 1st after their helicopter crashed on takeoff from an oil platform.

The pilot and a passenger were rescued by the crew of the offshore supply vessel Amy Louis. A Coast Guard MH-65C Dolphin helicopter flew from Coast Guard Air Station Houston late morning to the scene approximately 75 miles southeast of Galveston.

The chopper transported the two men to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, were they were hospitalized with critical back injuries.

Rotorcraft is the leasing company of the downed helicopter. Gerry Golden, the company operations director, says the men suffered non-life threatening injuries.

The accident's cause is being investigated.

Source: Houston Chronicle