US Coast Guard suspends search for 4 people on board helicopter that crashed in the Gulf of Mexico

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for four people who were on board a helicopter that crashed in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday morning. 

The helicopter was departing an oil platform when it went down around 8:40 a.m. about 10 miles off the coast of Southwest Pass, Louisiana. 

A Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and a boatcrew searched approximately 180 square miles for eight hours before suspending the search at 6:15 a.m. Debris were located, but no survivors were found. 

"It is always a difficult decision to suspend a search," Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Keefe, Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, said in a statement. "Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family and friends during this difficult time."

The helicopter belonged to Rotorcraft Leasing Company, which describes itself as the "largest privately-held helicopter operator in the Gulf of Mexico." A spokesperson for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. 

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Petty Officer Jose Hernandez told Fox News Digital that the search is suspended "unless new information becomes available that will help us with our search efforts."

About 3,200 oil and gas structures are active throughout the Gulf of Mexico, ranging from single well caissons in shallow water to massive drilling sites in depths of up to 10,000 feet. 

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In a separate incident earlier this month, the Coast Guard rescued three people who were onboard a helicopter that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico while trying to land on an oil rig about 30 miles south of the Louisiana coast. 

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.