Two people were rescued and taken to a hospital after their plane made an emergency landing at the mouth of the Susitna River on Friday, the Alaska Air National Guard said.
A Piper PA-18 Super Cub flying from Wasilla experienced engine failure and the pilot decided to make the emergency landing, according to a friend who contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center after receiving a call from the pilot.
The rescue coordination center’s superintendent, Senior Master Sgt. Evan Budd, said in a statement that “the pilot navigated the aircraft into the marshy area on the west side of the mouth of the Susitna River,” northwest of Anchorage on the north side of Cook Inlet.
“This decision cushioned the landing, but the aircraft was damaged and the personnel on board required medical attention,” Budd said.
A 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk was dispatched with a pararescue team from the 212th Rescue Squadron on board, and the Super Cub’s pilot and passenger were safely retrieved and taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the Guard said.
The extent of their injuries and the plane’s intended destination weren’t immediately clear.