Archive image: A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60T Jayhawk Medium-Range Recovery Helicopter hovers over Sitka Sound during routine hoist training, Alaska, Apr. 25, 2023.
Air Station Sitka aircrew regularly conduct rescue hoist training exercises with their MH-60T Jayhawk to maintain proficiency with a variety of techniques used to recover persons from the water, a vessel, or land.
U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Lt. Cmdr Wryan Webb.
JUNEAU, Alaska – A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew rescue three sailors offshore Sitka, Alaska. January 10, 2024.
The U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies responded to an overturned vessel near Chichagof Island, Tuesday evening, and recovered three survivors and located two deceased individuals.
An MH-60T Jayhawk Medium-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew from Air Station Sitka was launched to respond. Once arrived on scene at 5:15 p.m., the helicopter crew deployed the rescue swimmer and recovered the three people from the water at 5:50 p.m. All times are approximate.
Coast Guard Cutters Douglas Denman (WPC 1149) and Kukui (WLB 203) and an HC-130 Hercules crew from Air Station Kodiak also responded Tuesday night, tracked the vessel’s drift, and searched the area near the overturned vessel for the two missing people. Air Station Sitka conducted additional searches Tuesday night and Wednesday mornings.
Sitka Fire Department arrived on scene with Alaska State/Wildlife Troopers early Wednesday afternoon and deployed an unmanned underwater drone to find the two deceased individuals in the cabin of the vessel. Recovery operations of the deceased people will commence once on-scene conditions improve.
“It was with a heavy heart that we received news about the two people inside the cabin from our Sitka Fire Department search partners,” said Coast Guard Capt. Darwin Jensen, commander of Sector Southeast Alaska. “We send our support and strength to the family members at this time and thank our partner agencies for their assistance in this case.”
Coast Guard watchstanders at the Sector Southeast Alaska command center received the initial notification of the overturned vessel from the Sitka Police Department at approximately 4:48 p.m. Tuesday.
Initial weather on scene was reported as 8-10 knot winds, 9 ft. seas, water temperature at 44 degrees, and air temperature at 31 degrees.
The three people recovered from the water were taken to awaiting emergency medical services (EMS) personnel at the Sitka airport.
–USCG–
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The three survivors were taken to awaiting emergency medical services at the Sitka airport to receive further care.
U.S. Coast Guard video.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Denman.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kukui.
U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area.
U.S. Coast Guard Alaska.
Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Department of Homeland Security.
Sitka Fire Department Search and Rescue.
Alaska State Troopers
