SABINE PASS, Texas — The United Cajun Navy is searching for a 35-year-old man who went missing from a tugboat in the Gulf of Mexico near Sabine Pass.
Thomas Phillips was last seen Sunday, February 5, 2023 night on the Smith Invader Tug vessel about one nautical mile off of McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge Texas. The tugboat crew member was reported missing around 6 a.m. the next day.
Phillips was wearing a white shirt and black pants when he was last seen.
Crews with the U.S. Coast Guard searched for a combined 23 hours and over more than 206 square miles for him. They had to suspend the search Tuesday, February 7, 2023.
“The tough decision of suspending a search is vetted through many channels and is never taken lightly,” Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Schwind, search and rescue mission coordinator for Sector Houston-Galveston, said in a release.
Phillips' family reached out to Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Tim Soignet after the Coast Guard's search was suspended.
Sheriff Soignet directed the family toward the United Cajun Navy, Brain Trascher, vice president of United Cajun Navy, told 12News.
The non-profit organization has been searching for Phillips since February 8, 2023. Trascher said they are doing whatever they can to find him.
While the United Cajun Navy does believe the efforts underway are recovery efforts, they are doing whatever they can to get closure for the family.
Not only have volunteers gone out by boats, but United Cajun Navy President Todd Terrell said there have been two to three planes flying daily since the search began.
While the United Cajun Navy knows for sure that two or three planes have been searching daily, Terrell said there could be more because the organization put out a call to other pilots and flight schools. However, the other pilots may have not reported their search because they did not find anything.
The weather has been an on-and-off issue during the search. The organization feels the best way to find Phillips is from the air.
Trascher said they have gotten in touch with a flight school out of Austin and plan to increase the search Monday. There will be four to six planes searching for Phillips if the weather permits and if there are available pilots.
Terrell said maritime accidents happen often in South Texas and South Louisiana because a lot of people earn their living around the water.
“Accidents happen so fast in the water," Terrell said. "Just shows you the danger of it."
The United Cajun Navy is asking the community to keep Thomas Phillips, his family, and his friends in their prayers.
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