According to a media release from the Oceana County Sheriff's Office, on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 9:51 p.m. Mason-Oceana 911 received a call reporting something that looked like a parachute falling from the sky and into Lake Michigan. When the 911 call was made, dispatchers immediately initiated the "water emergency response plan." This plan notifies police, fire and EMS agencies simultaneously and puts several things in motion, initiating a response from numerous agencies.
The caller to 911 reported this from a residence on Beacon Drive, just south of Little Sable Point Lighthouse.
The caller and several witnesses reported to 911 seeing something that resembled a parachute falling from the sky, breaking into two pieces and falling into the water. There were no lights visible from the object from the shoreline. Callers reported that they believed it was approximately eight miles out into Lake Michigan.
Mason-Oceana 911 dispatched the sheriff’s office marine division as well as the Pentwater Fire Department for its drone team. Deputies responded to the caller’s residence to confirm the last scene location from their perspective and to help guide responding boats to begin searching in the correct location.
The marine division and U.S. Coast Guard arrived and began conducting grid search patterns to determine if there was anyone in the water. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from Traverse City was also dispatched to assist in the search. A command post was established at the Little Sable Point parking lot. Silver Lake State Park rangers assisted by responding and opening up the lighthouse to give a better vantage point and provide better radio communications. Mason-Oceana 911 responded with a communications repeater due to the poor radio coverage on the shoreline.
After both water and air search patterns were conducted with no contact made, at 12:32 a.m. it was determined to discontinue search efforts.
Oceana Sheriff Marine Division, U.S. Coast Guard, Pentwater Fire Department–Drone Team, Silver Lake State Park-DNR and Mason-Oceana 911 all responded to the call.
