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Three Missing From Helicopter Crash At Glacier Bay National Park

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By NPT Staff - September 30th, 2018
Search area for missing helicopter at Glacier Bay National Park

Searchers were looking for three people who went down with a helicopter on the western coast of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

Three people were missing from the crash near the western boundary of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve of a new helicopter that was being flown from Texas to Alaska.

A 14-year-old survived the crash and was flown to Sitka for hospitalization. He was reported to be suffering from mild hypothermia.

According to the National Park Service, the helicopter crashed Friday not far from Lituya Bay on the Gulf of Alaska coast within the park's boundaries. The whirlybird was on a flight from Juneau to Yakutat, with a final destination of Wasilla.

On Saturday, a park aircraft patrolled the area as the Coast Guard cutter Bailey Barco searched the waters. With assistance of the Alaska State Troopers, two ground teams with dogs were deployed to search the shoreline. A temporary flight restriction was in effect to ensure safety of air operations in the search area.

The helicopter had two adults and two adolescents aboard, according to a park release. At approximately 9 p.m. Friday park officials received word from the Coast Guard that a search had been initiated for the aircraft, which had been reported overdue. Searchers were able to determine the last known position of the aircraft due to the signal of a GPS locator.

According to the Coast Guard, the downed helicopter was reportedly a new purchase from a factory in Texas.

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