Coast Guard Recovers 4 Crew With Minor Injuries After Alaska Helicopter Crash

Officials said the personnel escaped with ‘non-serious’ injuries after a training flight accident.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 02:00 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed near Sitka, Alaska. [Credit: U.S. Coast Guard]

Key Takeaways:

A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed in Sitka, Alaska, during a training flight, with all four crew members sustaining non-serious injuries and an investigation pending.
This incident occurred in a region known for its significantly higher aircraft accident rate compared to the rest of the U.S., largely due to outdated infrastructure and severe weather conditions.
Federal agencies are implementing initiatives, such as the Brand New ATC System (BNATCS), to install new weather stations and modernize flight service automation to improve aviation safety in Alaska.

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The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday said it recovered four personnel with “non-serious” injuries after their Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed in Alaska during a training flight.

The Coast Guard said watch standers at its Arctic District command center were alerted to the crash near Sitka, Alaska, around 10:07 a.m. local time on Monday, after the crew’s personal locator beacon was activated. Sitka Fire and Rescue personnel located the crew around 11 a.m. and flew them to nearby Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center.