Two occupants presumed dead after plane crashes in Lake Pontchartrain

A flight instructor and student pilot from a Gulfport-based flight school are presumed dead this evening after their Cessna plane crashed into the waters of Lake Pontchartrain Monday night.

Officials from Apollo Aviation talked to the media at Million Air’s facility earlier Tuesday afternoon, providing an update on the ongoing search and rescue efforts as well as more detail on the flight that originated from Million Air in Gulfport.

Apollo Flight School officials say the female pilot and male student pilot are both in their mid-20s, but they dd not release their identities.

The flight took off Monday night around 5:45 p.m., headed to New Orleans and contact was lost with the plane around 6:23.

No distress call was made and it’s still unsure what caused the crash.

Search and efforts continued in the waters of Lake Pontchartrain Tuesday by members of the Coas Guard station in New Orleans and volunteers from the United Cajun Navy.