Alaska Guard Rescues Pilots From Two Plane Crashes

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U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II aviators assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, conduct flight operations while responding to a simulated medical emergency during SAREX 2026 near Sitka, Alaska, April 16, 2026.

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U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II aviators assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, conduct flight operations while responding to a simulated medical emergency during SAREX 2026 near Sitka, Alaska, April 16, 2026. SAREX 2026 was a search-and-rescue exercise conducted by U.S. Coast Guardsmen assigned to Sector Southeastern Alaska and U.S. Arctic out of USCG Air Station Sitka. Participants also included Alaska Army National Guard aviators assigned to the 207th Aviation Troop Command, Alaska Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons, Air Force Reserve pararescuemen from the 304th Rescue Squadron out of Portland, Oregon, civilian search and rescue personnel with Sitka Search and Rescue, and volunteers from the National Park Service. The collaborative and realistic training drew on the participants’ varied backgrounds, experiences and practices, to enhance SAR proficiency and collective readiness when conducting life-saving missions along Alaska’s extensive and austere coast. Photo by Alejandro Pena.

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued two pilots in two separate plane crashes Sept. 10.

The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson opened the first mission after receiving a report from a good Samaritan of a crash of a Piper PA-18 at Friday Creek about 20 miles east of Palmer.

The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center requested support from the 176th Wing search and rescue duty officer, who dispatched a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60W Jolly Green II search and rescue helicopter with 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angel rescue Airmen on board.

The HH-60 crew landed near the crash site, and the Guardian Angels made contact with the pilot before bringing the pilot on board the helicopter for transport to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

The second mission opened when the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received a 911 report of a Cessna 170 that crashed near Skwentna about 80 miles northwest of Anchorage.

In a near repeat of the previous mission, the HH-60 crew located the crash, landed and the Guardian Angels brought the pilot into the helicopter for transport to Providence.

Alaska Rescue Coordination Center officials urge aircraft owners to keep 406 MHz emergency locator transmitters up to date with their aircraft's registration information to expedite rescue efforts.

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