17th District Office of Public Affairs |
|
|
Press Release |
| Coast Guard rescues two from plane crash ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Coast Guard rescued two people Saturday after they crashed their small plane seven miles from Whittier. The two were piloting a single engine plane and became lost and low on fuel. They contacted the Flight Security Service (FSS) in Juneau to report the problem. The FSS contacted the Coast Guard for additional assistance around 8 p.m.The Coast Guard diverted an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crew from a training flight to locate the small plane. The Jayhawk crew used direction-finding equipment on the small plane's signal and located the aircraft. The Jayhawk crew attempted to escort them to Whittier. Seven miles from Whittier the plane ran out of fuel and crash-landed. The Jayhawk crew immediately rescued the two occupants and delivered them to awaiting emergency medical personnel at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage. The two occupants had no injuries and were driven to their home.The HH-60 Jayhawk and crew were forward deployed to Cordova from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak. During the summer months a helicopter and crew is kept on standby in Cordova for faster response to events in Prince William Sound. |
-30- |
printer friendly