Flights restricted where La. pipeline still burns
Flights restricted over La. pipeline still burning 2 days after hit by tug pushing oil barge
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The Coast Guard has placed temporary flight restrictions over a coastal Louisiana bayou where a pipeline fire continues to burn two days after it was touched off by a tugboat accident.
The restrictions announced Thursday affect flights below 5,000 feet and within a mile of the accident site.
The fire started Tuesday evening when a tug pushing an oil barge struck a Chevron Corp. liquefied natural gas pipeline in Bayou Perot (per-ROH'), about 30 miles south of New Orleans. Gas to the area was shut off but officials said it would take time to burn off product remaining in the pipe.
One man was severely burned in the accident, which is under investigation. The barge was carrying 92,000 gallons of oil. It remained intact Thursday with no leaks reported.
