Date: July 2, 2008 

Contact: Ninth District Public Affairs Office 
(216) 902-6020 office
(216) 310-2608 cell

    COAST GUARD SEARCHING ON POSSIBLE AIRCRAFT IN DISTRESS 

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Coast Guard is searching for a possible aircraft in the water in Lake Ontario today after hearing a radio transmission from a receiver in the Rochester area.

The radio transmission was received by the Coast Guard at approximately 9:30 a.m. 

A Coast Guard Air Station Detroit HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter; Coast Guard Station Oswego 25-foot response boat; Coast Guard Station Rochester 47-foot utility boat and 25-foot response boat; an Auxiliary Operated Sodus Point, N.Y. pleasure craft; and a Canadian C-130 search plane from RCC Trenton are searching for any sign of a distressed aircraft approximately 30 miles north of Sodus Point.

The search was initiated when the Coast Guard received an uncorrelated mayday transmission.  While determining the validity of this transmission, additional information led the Coast Guard to believe there may be an aircraft in the water.  The transmission, alone, could not positively determine an aircraft was in distress.

CLICK HERE for a recording of the radio transmission.     

For further information please contact Petty Officer Matthew Schofield, Ninth Coast Guard District Public Affairs, at (216) 902-6020.   

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