July 18th, 2015
JUNEAU, Alaska —
Rescue crews have located all five people who were onboard a small plane that crashed 18 miles west of Juneau, Friday.
Four of the people aboard the plane survived and were transported to Juneau by a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, for treatment of their injuries. The fifth person was located by the search team who reported that they were deceased.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims following this tragic event,” said Cmdr. Patrick Hilbert, deputy commander, Coast Guard Sector Juneau. “We appreciate the support provided by the Alaska State Troopers and Juneau Mountain Rescue personnel during our response efforts today.”
Names of the people onboard the plane are being withheld pending next of kin notification.
The cause of the crash will be investigated by the NTSB.
Rescue agencies were notified about the crash by the planes automated emergency beacon and from a 911 call placed by a person who was onboard the plane.
A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Liberty, Alaska State Troopers, members of Juneau Mountain Rescue and three TEMSCO helicopter crews responded to the crash.
Steep terrain and limited visibility on scene prevented the helicopters from transporting ground crews to directly to the scene of the crash. The ground crews were hoisted to a clearing near the crash site where they located the five people who were onboard the plane at the time of the crash.