Funeral sevices were held this past weekend for a Franklinton man who was one of four people killed in a Gulf of Mexico helicopter crash.
The crash occurred on the morning of December 29 while transporting oil platform workers ten miles offshore in the Gulf. The helicopter pilot and three oil platform workers were killed.
One of those killed was Robbie Bankston, a 1992 graduate of Franklinton High School who was well known in the Franklinton area. Before going offshore, he had worked at Winn-Dixie and other local businesses.
At the time of his death Bankston was employed by Island Operating Company as a production operator. He worked for Island Operating Company on various oil platforms throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
The crash occurred about 80 miles due southeast of New Orleans. Following the accident, the Coast Guard searched with boats and helicopters for possible survivors. After approximately eight hours of searching over a wide area, the search was suspended late on December 29 after there were no sightings of survivors, the Coast Guard reported.
The bodies of all four victims of the accident were later recovered and identifications were officially made on January 3.
As of now, the cause of the crash has not been determined and an investigation is being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. Following that investigation, an official accident report will be issued.
