4 people rescued with injuries after plane crash near Yakutat

YAKUTAT, Alaska (KTUU) - Four people were airlifted with non-life threatening injuries after a plane crashed Tuesday near Dry Bay — approximately 30 miles southeast of Yakutat — according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Alaska State Troopers said they received a report just after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday of a small crash that involved injuries. Troopers spokesperson Tim DeSpain said the DHC-3 DeHavilland fixed-wing plane suffered an emergency problem that led to the crash. According to a trooper dispatch posted Wednesday, “Preliminary investigation determined N703TH experienced an emergency incident that resulted in a crash.”

According to an email from the Coast Guard, the emergency locator transmitter alert was received by Coast Guard watchstanders at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday.

“The great work of Air Stations Sitka and Kodiak to provide critical rescue services to these crash survivors in Yakutat speaks volumes about the professionalism and expertise of the pilots and aircrews,” said Capt. Alan McCabe Coast Guard 17th District chief of response. “This rescue that was coordinated by two air stations was all the more noteworthy because Air Station Kodiak was simultaneously using a second C-130 for to search for a possible missing mariner from a skiff in Cook Inlet while Air Station Sitka sent an MH-60 helicopter to assist the survivors of this plane crash in Yakutat. The local service professionals in Yakutat were also critical to help the survivors and their expertise and teamwork are commended. We are extremely proud of the women and men across these two air stations that made this case happen so seamlessly to assist these survivors in such a challenging remote location.”

The Yakutat Police Department assisted the Coast Guard with response, according to troopers. The Coast Guard said in a press release that two people were airlifted to Yakutat with “critical back injuries,” while a third was taken to town by Yakutat police with “breathing issues.”

The Coast Guard reported that a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter arrived at the crash scene and took two survivors to Yakutat, and the Yakutat Police Department took a third survivor to Yakutat where all three were taken to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and then shuttled to nearby hospitals by Anchorage EMS. The fourth survivor was transported to Yakutat by a good Samaritan.

The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified as well and are investigating the crash.

This article has been updated with additional information.

Editor’s note: This article has been corrected to reflect that the crash happened on Tuesday, not Friday.

Copyright 2022 KTUU. All rights reserved.