Saturday, March 31, 2012

Two People Rescued After Knik Glacier Plane Crash

ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Two people on board a plane that crashed on Knik Glacier were rescued by an Alaska Air National Guard helicopter crew Friday afternoon, according to Guard officials. No injuries were reported in the crash.

Alaska ANG Staff Sgt. Karima Turner says the Federal Aviation Administration relayed an alert about the crash to the 11th Rescue Coordination Center, which dispatched a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter to the crash site.

The helicopter was able to land on the glacier and safely pick up the plane’s occupants, although the extent of their injuries wasn’t determined until the Pave Hawk arrived.

“We didn’t know what the status was of the crash victims,” said Maj. Karl Westerlund, director of the 11th RCC. “It was imperative that we were able to task our assets as quickly as possible to ensure a timely response to the crash site.”

The helicopter subsequently flew the two occupants to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

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