Alaska Air National Guard rescues 4 plane crash victims at Montague Island
Alaska Air National Guardsmen rescued four victims of an Aug. 30 plane crash at a coastal sandbar on Montague Island, about 60 miles southeast of Seward, officials said late Wednesday.
The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (AKRCC) at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson opened the mission after receiving a signal from an aircraft's emergency locator transmitter registered to the owner of a Cessna 180, according to Alaska National Guard Public Affairs.
The AKRCC requested assistance from the 176th Wing search and rescue duty officer, which dispatched a helicopter with pararescuemen on board, officials said.
Due to concerns about flying sand and beach debris, rescuers landed a short distance from the crash site before making contact with four crash victims who had extracted themselves from the seemingly undamaged but flipped-over Cessna, Alaska National Guard Public Affairs said.
Authorities said rescuers then flew the four victims to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, where they were released to civilian medical personnel.
ABC News' Vanessa Navarrete contributed to this report.
