Archive image: U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter aviators assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, conduct flight operations over Southcentral Alaska, January 29, 2026.
The HH-60 is the 176th Wing’s primary platform for personnel extraction since the all-weather helicopter can land in a variety of remote locations, and the crew can employ the rescue hoist when landing is not possible.
Alaska Air National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña.
Story by Alejandro Peña, 176th Wing
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Air National Guard (AKANG) HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter aircrew assigned to the 176th Wing conducted the rescue of an injured cross-country skier in Southcentral Alaska, on February 16, 2026.
After sustaining a head injury while cross-country skiing, the injured individual used a cellular phone to contact the Alaska State Troopers who then requested support from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (AKRCC), resulting in the RCC opening a search and rescue mission.
Due to the absence of daylight and the lack of an illuminated airstrip near the distressed individual, local civilian air ambulance services were unable to conduct the mission.
The AKANG accepted the mission and dispatched Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) based rescue assets from the 176th Wing’s rescue squadrons.
Using night vision goggles (NVG), a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter aircrew with 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angel pararescuemen aboard flew to a remote cabin near Girdwood about 30 nautical miles southwest of Anchorage.
The HH-60G Pave Hawk aircrew arrived on scene and loaded the patient for transport. The rescue helicopter aircrew quickly transported and released the patient to Providence Alaska Medical Center.
While the 176th Wing Rescue Triad’s military mission stands alert in support of the Eleventh Air Force Alaska NORAD Region, they also work with the AKRCC to provide Alaska with specialized civil search and rescue (SAR) capabilities when available.
The rescue squadrons continuously train in Alaska’s vast and austere locations to hone their specialized skill set and can operate under the most challenging conditions.
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