The Coast Guard rescued two people from a plane crash Saturday 40 miles southeast of Ketchikan late Saturday afternoon.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka rescued the two from the U.S. Forest Service Cabin at Humpback Lake in the Misty Fjords National Monument after their Cessna 180 float plane crashed during takeoff.
The helicopter crew lowered a rescue swimmer who safely hoisted both individuals before transferring them to awaiting emergency personnel in Ketchikan.
The two survivors were the only passengers aboard the privately owned aircraft. No injuries were reported, according to the Coast Guard.
“This case highlights the importance of having safety equipment that is accessible and in working order,” said Lt. Maren Balke, search and rescue mission coordinator at the Sector Juneau command center. “The pilot was able to call for help using a satellite phone shortly after the crash, and they also activated a personal locator beacon, which allowed our air crew to quickly respond to their exact location.”
Weather conditions on scene were 5 mph winds, visibility of 10 miles, ceilings of 5,000 feet with an air temperature of 65 degrees.
Last week, six died after a sightseeing plane crashed in Misty Fjords. The National Transportation and Safety Board arrived in Ketchikan on Saturday to begin investigating the cause of the crash.
Alaska State Troopers identified the victims of that accident as pilot Rolf Lanzendorfer, 64, of Woodinville, Washington; Mark Henderson, 69, and Jacquelyn Komplin, 60, of Napa, Calif.; Andrea McArthur, 55, and Rachel McArthur, 20, of Woodstock, Georgia; and Janet Kroll, 77, of Mount Prospect, Illinois.
Troopers said their bodies will be transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage.
