Archive image: A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew, assigned to Air Station Astoria, hovers above a ridge line near Mount St. Helens in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Wash., on May 30, 2025.
U.S. National Guard photo by Adeline Witherspoon.
SEATTLE – While responding to historic flooding in Washington State on Friday, a Coast Guard Air Station Astoria MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew conducted the rescue of two stranded hunters from a remote cabin in the Suiattle River Valley, near Mansford, due Washington floods, after floodwaters washed out their only roadway access.
The rescue helicopter aircrews from a Coast Guard Air Station Astoria MH-60T Jayhawk and an Air Station Port Angeles MH-65E Dolphin responded alongside a Washington Air National Guard Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk to assist local responders with a search for missing persons in the Suiattle Valley during the Western Washington floods.
During their search and rescue (SAR) efforts, the MH-60T Jayhawk Medium-Range Recovery Helicopter Air Station Astoria aircrew located a small hunting cabin with two hunters signaling the helicopter by flashing lights at the aircraft.
The MH-60T Jayhawk aircrew lowered a rescue swimmer to the cabin, determined the hunters were stranded and hoisted the two individuals into the helicopter using a rescue basket The hunters became stranded after floodwaters washed out the only road access to their cabin and were running out of food.
The hunters became stranded after floodwaters washed out their only egress route and they ran out of food.
U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Annika Hirschler.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria.
U.S. Coast Guard Northwest.
U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area.
The MH-60T Jayhawk MRR Helicopter aircrew transported the hunters to Darrington Municipal Airport where they were reunited with their families.
Coast Guard crews continue to operate alongside federal, state, tribal, and local partners as historic flooding impacts communities throughout the region.
As America’s premier maritime first responder, the U.S. Coast Guard delivers highly skilled, multi-mission capabilities to save lives and proudly protect the citizens and visitors of the Pacific Northwest.
–USCG–
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