A 36-year-old California woman lost in the Pigeon River State Forest was located Saturday, September 6, 2025, thanks to the camera system aboard Trooper 6, a Michigan state Police helicopter.
The woman became disoriented while participating in a YouTube challenge, authorities said. State police canines initially searched the dense woodland before the helicopter was deployed. The Trooper 6 crew spotted her at approximately 10:40 a.m.using the aircraft’s camera. Law enforcement officers and firefighters then guided the woman out of the forest.
This rescue highlights the increasing role of aerial technology in search and rescue operations in Michigan, where vast and often remote wilderness areas pose significant challenges. The incident follows a similar case in April, when drone cameras located a woman who had been missing in West Michigan for three days.
The Michigan State Police released footage from Trooper 6 showing the woman being located.