The family of missing Lafayette woman Danielle Wright is continuing to search for the 70-foot sailing yacht Nina, which went missing in May, but is doing it without help of the U.S. government.
According to Ricky Wright, Danielle's father, communication with the State Department has come to a standstill. Wright says that calls from Texas Equusearch, which is working with the Wright family to find Danielle, are currently going unanswered, and messages unreturned.
"I can't believe that the United States government won't launch a plane or help in a search for one of its citizens," Wright said Wednesday afternoon. "That's where we are."
Wright said Texas Equusearch, working with data provided from the New Zealand search authorities, has identified a new potential search area for the Nina. Unfortunately, that area is 300 miles offshore, meaning any aircraft that could do a search needs to have an incredibly long range.
"it's 300 miles offshore, so before you even start you need a plane that can fly 600 miles," Wright explained.
Wright continues to believe the Nina is still afloat and adrift, waiting for searchers to locate her.
"if she had sunk, we would have found some sort of wreckage by now," Wright said.