Parts of missing plane from Gulfport found in lake. Two people were onboard

Update: The U.S. Coast Guard in New Orleans was still searching Lake Pontchartrain on Wednesday for a missing Cessna single-engine plane, with no new information to report, guardsmen with external affairs said.

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a small Cessna airplane reported missing over Lake Pontchartrain after it took off with two people aboard Monday evening from the Million Air Terminal at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport.

The Cessna 172N Skyhawk is owned by Michael Carastro of Apollo Aviation, a flight school at the airport, said Dave Schramko, the terminal’s general manager. Carastro was not on the airplane.

Schramko said Tuesday morning that he could not release any further information about the plane or who was aboard.

Air traffic control at the Lakefront Airport in New Orleans reported losing communication with the Cessna at around 6:30 p.m. when the plane was about 4 miles north of the airport, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Cheyenne Basurto. Basurto confirmed two people were aboard the Cessna.

She said the Coast Guard immediately launched a search with a 29-foot response boat and helicopter. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol helicopter replaced the Coast Guard helicopter at some point Tuesday morning, but the search continues for the missing aircraft.

Other groups joined the search, including the United Cajun Navy Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and local parishes.

At around 7:30 p.m., Coast Guard personnel noted discoloration in Lake Pontchartrain waters and honed in on an unspecified area. They found a seat cushion and head rest from a small plane, Basurto said.

The Sun Herald will update this story when more information is available.

This story was originally published November 25, 2025 at 8:58 AM.

Anita Lee

Sun Herald

601-909-0638

Anita, a Mississippi native, graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and previously worked at the Jackson Daily News and Virginian-Pilot, joining the Sun Herald in 1987. She specializes in in-depth coverage of government, public corruption, transparency and courts. She has won state, regional and national journalism awards, most notably contributing to Hurricane Katrina coverage awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service. Support my work with a digital subscription