Been taken over?

I was on a demo ride in a Columbia when ATC told us they lost contact
with an airplane in our area who indicated he had an emergency. They
wanted us to look for the plane. We found it in a field and reported
it. We were told to remain in the area until another plane arrived. We
did.

I don't know whether we could have legally been forced to help in the
search but it really doesn't matter. What are you going to say, "you
can't make me so go find the downed plane by yourself?" I would like
to think that in an emergency pilots will help each other out without
being required to.