Archive image: An Alaska Army National Guard UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter assigned to A Company, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion approaches the Herbert Glacier riverbed while conducting flight operations near Juneau, Alaska, Jan. 24, 2025.
The Juneau-based UH-60L Black Hawk aircrew conducts their mission training requirements and, when available, can respond to emergency requests by the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (AKRCC) or the State Emergency Operations Center.
The UH-60 Black Hawk is a versatile helicopter, suited for a variety of missions including, air assaults, medical evacuations, and airlift operations.
Equipped with internal and external auxiliary fuel tanks, the Black Hawk’s range is extended allowing the aviators to better support the communities of Southeast Alaska.
Alaska National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña.
Story by Alejandro Pena, Alaska National Guard
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Army National Guard (AKARNG) UH-60L Black Hawk aircrews with the 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion, conducted the rescue of four survivors from two separate plane crashes across Alaska in September 5, and September 8, respectively.
On Friday, September 5, the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (AKRCC) opened a mission in response to a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers.
The AKARNG accepted the mission and dispatched a Nome based UH-60L Black Hawk aircrew to vicinity of the crash site about 45 nautical miles south of St. Michael.
The UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter aircrew spotted a downed two-seat aircraft, along with two uninjured individuals and located a clearing on the tundra to land. The downed small aircraft pilot and a visiting hunter were picked up and transported to Nome where they were released to the AST.
The following Monday, Sept. 8, the AKRCC opened another mission in response to a request for assistance from the National Park Service.
The Alaska Army National Guard accepted the mission, this time dispatching a Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson based UH-60L Black Hawk aircrew to the reported crash site in the Wrangell Mountains about 175 nautical miles east of Anchorage.
The UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew spotted the downed two-seat aircraft, along with two uninjured survivors and located an open gravel bar to land. The two individuals, who were on a hunting trip, were picked up and transported to Gulkana where they were released to the NPS.
The mission out of Nome was prompted by a distress signal from the downed aircraft’s 406 MHz emergency locator transmitter (ELT), while mission in the Wrangell Mountains was initiated in response to an activated personal locator beacon (PLB).
The two incidents and successful outcomes highlight the vital importance of having an emergency communication plan when recreating in Alaska’s remote and rugged terrain.
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