Archive image: U.S. Army National Guard UH-60L Black Hawk aviators, assigned to the 207th Aviation Troop Command, Alaska Army National Guard, take off from Bethel, Alaska, Nov. 6, 2025, while supporting Operation Halong Response efforts.
U.S. Army National Guard photo by Dana Rosso.
Story by Alejandro Peña, Alaska National Guard
BETHEL, Alaska — An Alaska Army National Guard (AKARNG) UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter aircrew assigned to A Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion conducted the medevac of a patient requiring advanced medical care from Scammon Bay to Bethel after severe weather grounded civilian air ambulances for two consecutive days. November 18, 2025.
The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (AKRCC) initiated the mission following a request for assistance from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional Medical Center.
The patient, a Scammon Bay resident, had sustained a hip injury that exceeded the treatment capabilities of the local clinic. Initial attempts to evacuate the patient via a civilian air ambulance were halted due to persistent inclement weather.
By the third day, with weather conditions still preventing fixed-wing operations, local medical personnel sought support from the AKRCC.
The Alaska Army National Guard’s A Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion, accepted the mission and dispatched a Bethel-based UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter airt to conduct the medical evacuation.
The UH-60L Black Hawk aircrew was able to avoid icing conditions thanks to the helicopter’s ability to operate at lower altitudes and slower speeds than fixed-wing aircraft. Its prepositioned location in Bethel further reduced response time, enabling a timely pickup.
Upon arrival in Bethel, the AKARNG UH-60L Black Hawk aircrew transferred the patient to Yukon-Kuskokwim medical personnel for continued care.
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