A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed during a training flight near Harbor Mountain in Sitka, Alaska, on Monday, injuring all four crew members on board. The helicopter, based at Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, went down shortly after 10 a.m. local time, and first responders arrived at the scene around 11 a.m. The injured crew members were transported to Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center, though their conditions have not been disclosed. The Coast Guard confirmed that no fatalities occurred in the crash and emphasized that the safety and rescue of the crew members were their immediate priority. A formal investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident.
The MH-60 Jayhawk is a rare aircraft in the Coast Guard’s fleet, with only 51 in operation. The helicopter has been instrumental in rescue operations, saving over 13,000 lives since its introduction in 1990. The crash marks a notable loss for the Coast Guard, which relies on the Jayhawk for critical missions in remote and challenging environments like Alaska.
Sitka, where the crash occurred, is a city-borough in southern Alaska, near the state capital of Juneau. The area is known for its rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions, which can complicate search and rescue efforts. The Coast Guard’s Arctic District command center received the initial report of the crash and coordinated the response.
The incident comes amid a broader context of increased U.S. military aircraft incidents in recent months, though the Coast Guard has not been significantly involved in the conflicts contributing to the uptick in crashes. The Coast Guard has not yet provided an update on the status of the injured crew members or the progress of the investigation.