Update on the Plane Crash and Rescue on Prince of Wales w/Photos

Official Coast Guard Report:

Coast Guard rescues 11 from plane crash near Ketchikan, Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska – Two Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews rescued 11 people after a floatplane crashed 39 miles south southwest of Ketchikan, Alaska, on Prince of Wales Island, Tuesday.

The Jayhawk crews arrived on scene, and were able to safely hoist all 11 people from the side of a mountain, approximately 2,000 feet in elevation. The Jayhawk crew then took them to a staging area established by Temsco Helicopters Inc., for further transfer to Ketchikan by Temsco helicopters. All were reported to have minor injuries, but otherwise in good condition.

Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center watchstanders received a call from the pilot of a Dehaviland DHC-3 aircraft stating that the plane crashed on Prince of Wales Island, on the west side of Mount Jumbo. Sector Juneau watchstanders quickly directed the launch of two Jayhawk helicopter crews.

“I am proud of everyone involved in this rescue and that we were able to get all 11 people to safety in a timely manner,” said Cmdr. Michael Kahle, Coast Guard Sector Juneau search and rescue mission coordinator. “Cases like these exemplify the versatility of our aircrews and how capable they are to expertly perform rescues from the ocean or even mountainsides.”

Weather at the time of the incident was approximately two-mile visibility, three miles of ceiling, broken clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet and 58 degrees.

Update:

KODIAK, Alaska - A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew battles low visibility weather conditions in order to locate a downed airplane on Mount Jumbo, on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, June 10, 2018. Eleven people were hoisted from the crash site by a Jayhawk helicopter crew and taken to emergency medical personnel for further care. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

KODIAK, Alaska - A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew locates the downed aircraft on Mount Jumbo on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, Jun 10, 2018. The Jayhawk aircrew hoisted all 11 people from the aircraft and took them to a pre-staging area where they were seen by local emergency medical personnel, and Temsco helicopter crews took the 11 survivors to Ketchikan, Alaska. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

KODIAK, Alaska - A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew and Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad personnel tend to survivors from a downed aircraft on Mount Jumbo on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, June 10, 2018. All 11 people aboard the aircraft survived and were hoisted by a Jayhawk helicopter aircrew and taken to emergency medical personnel for triage before being further taken to Ketchikan for higher level medical care. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

"Today's rescue was a great team effort that required assistance from several agencies," said Lt. Cmdr. Joe Plunkett, Jayhawk aircraft commander during the rescue. "The coordinated efforts showcased how Alaskans stand together and help each other out."

Other agencies involved in the rescue were: Alaska State Troopers, Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad and Temsco Helicopters Inc. 


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