4 US Coast Guard Members Injured After Helicopter Crash on Read Island in Alaska

The United States Coast Guard said four service members were injured after an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed late Monday night while on a search and rescue mission in Alaska.

Officials say the aircraft went down on Read Island, just south of Juneau, and that two of the service members have serious injuries.

The Coast Guard released a statement Tuesday that said crews from Alaska Wildlife Troopers and the Petersburg Fire and Rescue initially arrived at the scene just after midnight, and that a second MH-60 Jayhawk arrived from Air Station Sitka about 40 minutes later.

“Together, they provided preliminary medical care to two crew members who were reported to have sustained serious injuries,” the Coast Guard stated.

“The four crew members were hoisted aboard the second Coast Guard helicopter and were transported to Petersburg for medical care. They were then transferred to Seattle via a C-130 Hercules aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak for a higher level of care," the statement read.

“The watchstanders received notification of the crash at approximately 11:05 p.m. from the fishing vessel Lydia Marie, who was initially receiving search and rescue assistance from the aircrew due to flooding on their vessel.”

The buoy tender USCGC Elderberry (WLI-65401) and Fast Response Cutter USCGC Douglas Denman (WPC-1149) established movement to quickly assist recovery efforts for the Lydia Marie.

“Our priority is to provide the highest level of care possible for our injured members and their families,” Rear Adm. Megan Dean, commander of the Coast Guard’s 17th District, said in a statement.

“We are grateful for the swift response and professional skill shown by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers and Petersburg Fire and Rescue members who answered our call for assistance during this critical time. We have opened an investigation into the cause of this event and will be forthcoming with the results as they become available," Dean added.

The MH-60 Jayhawk crash is under investigation, the Coast Guard stated.