NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard is responding to a report of a missing aircraft in Lake Ponchartrain, Wednesday.
Watchstanders at the 8th Coast Guard District received a call from a New Orleans International Airport air traffic control tower at approximately 8:30 p.m., reporting a missing Cessna 172 with two people aboard.
The aircraft was last seen on radar one mile northeast of the Lakefront Airport. The flight was reported to be a student instructor flight.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans responded by issuing an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and deploying a 45-foot Response Boat - Medium crew from Coast Guard Station New Orleans and a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans.
The Coast Guard is working together with Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, the Houston Air Traffic Control Center and Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office to search for the two missing persons.