From Google:
Prompt
Provide more details, preferably including the cause of the crash: "A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka crashed on Harbor Mountain in Sitka, Alaska, with four crew members aboard. All four survived with minor injuries. The wreckage was photographed on the mountain on June 22, 2026."
Response
The official cause of the crash is currently unknown and remains under active investigation by a team of Coast Guard members and civilian accident-analysis experts. The U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities have shared several key details regarding the incident:
Timeline and Location
- The Flight: The MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter (Registration: 6002) was on a routine training flight when it crashed on Monday, June 22, 2026.
- The Crash: Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Arctic District command center first received the crash alert via a personal locator beacon and a 911 hang-up call at 10:07 a.m. local time.
- Exact Site: The helicopter went down approximately 1,500 feet up on the south side of Harbor Mountain, resting in a heavily wooded, steep area several miles outside of Sitka.
Rescue and Crew Status
- The Rescue: The Sitka Fire Department and Coast Guard search-and-rescue teams navigated challenging terrain to reach the site by 11:00 a.m.. First responders utilized specialized rope teams to safely access the steep wreckage zone.
- The Crew: All four crew members from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka survived. They were treated for non-serious, minor injuries at Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center and were fully released the same day.
Current Site Status and Salvage Operations
- Area Closure: The U.S. Forest Service issued an emergency closure for the Harbor Mountain Road and surrounding trails to keep the public safe and preserve the scene.
- Wreckage Impact: The aircraft sustained substantial damage and took out several trees, but no damage was reported to local road or trail infrastructure.
- Recovery Efforts: The Alaska Army National Guard’s Downed Aircraft Recovery Team is initiating a comprehensive salvage plan to airlift the wreckage from the mountain.
- Air Guard Operations: While Air Station Sitka crews undergo a deliberate process to safely resume flights, aircrews from Air Station Kodiak have been deployed to Sitka to maintain regional search-and-rescue coverage.
