USCG retrieves plane crash survivors

The US Coast Guard (USCG) located and rescued the survivors of a plane crash near Petersburg, Alaska on 4 June. A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew safely hoisted and transported six survivors to Petersburg, after locating the crashed de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver near Le Conte Bay.

Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders were notified of the overdue aircraft on the afternoon of 4 June when an emergency locator transmitter went off in the Petersburg area. Coupled with a reported loss of communications from the aircraft's company dispatch, watchstanders immediately directed the launch of the Air Station Sitka aircrew. Three civilian helicopters arrived in the vicinity of the emergency beacon and the Jayhawk crew arrived at the search location shortly afterwards.

The USCG aircrew spotted a person on the side of a mountain and lowered a rescue swimmer, who learned that of the six survivors, one had a broken leg and one had a broken back. The survivors were transported to Petersburg and transferred to emergency medical service personnel, and the Coast Guard co-ordinated with the Alaska State Troopers to safely recover the remains of the deceased.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the deceased and injured in this tragic incident,” said Cmdr. Marc Burd, chief of response, Coast Guard Sector Juneau. “The use of their emergency locator transmitter ensured that we knew there had been an incident and that people needed help. Because of their preparation, we were able to locate and rescue the survivors.”

A video of the rescue can be viewed below: