A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, like the one seen here, crashed in Alaska on Monday with four people on board. File Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Connie Terrell/U.S. Coast Guard/UPI
June 23 (UPI) — All four Coast Guard members aboard a helicopter that crashed in Alaska sustained only minor injuries, the maritime law enforcement agency said.
The Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed Monday morning during a training flight near Harbor Mountain, Sitka, Alaska, the Coast Guard said in a statement.
The first reports of the crash were received at the Arctic District command center shortly after 10 a.m. local time, officials said.
Deployed responders reached the aircraft at about 11 a.m. local time, the Coast Guard said, and were able to transport the helicopter’s four occupants to Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center.
U.S. Coast Guard Arctic later Monday said that the four Coast Guard members involved in the crash sustained only minor injuries.
“We are incredibly relieved our crew members survived with only minor injuries,” Rear Adm. Bob Little, commander of the Coast Guard’s Arctic District, said in a statement.
“We are grateful for the swift response by the Sitka Fire and Rescue, who assisted us during this critical time.”
In response to the crash, Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak will be repositioning a helicopter and crews to Coast Guard Air Station Sitka to maintain operational readiness in the Southeastern Alaska region, officials said.
The crash is under investigation.