CAMP DENALI, Alaska—Airmen with the Alaska National Guard’s 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued two people involved in a plane crash who were following the Iron Dog race near Rainy Pass Sunday.
The 11th Air Force Rescue Coordination Center was notified via the Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking or SARSAT system that a 406 beacon was activated at 3:20 p.m., alerting them that a plane may have crashed.
“The RCC called the registration numbers for that 406 beacon and verified that the pilot was out flying,” said Senior Master Sgt. Robert Carte, superintendent, 11th Air Force RCC. “The 406 beacon wasn’t near the airport, so we knew the plane had likely crashed and we immediately contacted the Alaska Air National Guard search and rescue duty officer of a mission.”
The 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons were notified and after accepting the mission, Guardian Angels with the 212th Rescue Squadron boarded a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter and were en route to Rainy Pass at 4:45 p.m.
Meanwhile at Rainy Pass Lodge, according to the RCC, people on the ground who witnessed the crash ran to the scene and extracted the two victims to provide aid.
“We were in contact with the Perrins family at the lodge and learned they had an EMT providing on-scene CPR because one of the victims was unconscious,” Carte said. “They also helped clear an area for us, so the HH-60 had a place to land near the crash site.”
Once on scene, Guardian Angels assessed the plane crash victims and provided medical support for serious head injuries.
“The folks at Rainy Pass lodge did a tremendous job and deserve a lot of credit,” Carte said. “They organized getting the people out of the crash and provided a location for immediate medical care.”
After loading the victims on to the Pave Hawk helicopter, pilots with the 210th Rescue Squadron flew to Providence Hospital in Anchorage, while the Guardian Angels continued to provide medical support en route.
Alaska Air National Guardsmen landed at Providence at 7:05 p.m. and transferred care to the staff at Providence Hospital. The current condition of the victims is unknown.
The Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons were awarded two saves for this mission.
