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GALVESTON, Texas (AP) Two people were injured when a helicopter crashed on takeoff from an offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

A spokesman for Broussard, La.-based Rotorcraft Leasing Co., which serves the oil and gas industry, says the cause of the crash is being investigated.

Operations director Gerry Golden says the accident site is about 75 miles southeast of Galveston.

Golden says the helicopter was bound for another platform when it crashed on Sunday. He says the chopper's floats deployed and a boat helped rescue the pilot and the passenger.

A Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched to take the pair to the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Golden says both men sustained non-life threatening injuries and remained hospitalized for observation.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-02-09 0837CST | save this article / add to your favorites list