Alaska News

Air Guard responds to small-plane crash in northern Alaska

A small plane crashed Friday in northern Alaska, leaving at least one person aboard injured, according to the National Transportation Safety Board and Alaska Air National Guard.

In response to the report of a downed aircraft, the Air Guard deployed an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter and an HC-130 King aircraft, both carrying a team of Guardian Angels, said Sgt. Edward Eagerton, a Guard spokesman.

Eagerton said the crash site was about 250 miles northeast of Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks.

"We don't have all the details yet," Eagerton said.

Around 4 p.m. Friday, the response was still considered an active mission, he said.

Alaska NTSB office chief Clint Johnson said early reports indicated that a Helio Courier carrying three or four people crashed and one or two of the passengers received minor injuries.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct references to the Alaska Air National Guard.

Tegan Hanlon

Tegan Hanlon was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News between 2013 and 2019. She now reports for Alaska Public Media.

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