Copper Center, AK-At approximately 2:00 a.m. on May 31st, the Air National Guard Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (AK RCC) coordinating with the National Park Service (NPS) Search and Rescue Team rescued two men stranded by weather near Mt. Hawkins in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
62-year-old pilot James Feola from Cassville, NY and 62-year-old passenger Frederick Northup from Fairfield, NY took off at approximately 10:30 a.m. on May 29th from Talkeetna, AK in a Cessna 182 in route to Yakutat, AK.
At approximately 1:35 p.m. on May 29th, the International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC) notified the NPS Alaska Regional Communication Center (ARCC) of receiving SOS and ‘rescue needed’ messages from an InReach device from the vicinity of Mt. Hawkins in the Chugach Range in the national park.
Assistance was requested of Paul Claus, chief pilot and owner of the Ultima Thule Lodge, to locate the plane, but the search was unsuccessful due to weather. The NPS also requested assistance from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (AK RCC). The AK RCC coordinated with the 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons who already had aircraft in the area, responding to a mountaineering incident near Mt. Bona.
An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter with a Guardian Angel team of pararescue personnel on board and an HC-130J Combat King II based out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK attempted to access the crash site multiple times, but were unsuccessful despite several attempts in the afternoon and evening.
At approximately 2:00 a.m. May 31st, NPS was notified that the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter had reached the men and they had been rescued and were en route to a local Anchorage, AK medical center for treatment. AK RCC reported to the NPS that the passenger and pilot were cold but had only minor injuries.
In a separate incident, the NPS is still actively coordinating with AK RCC responding to three mountaineers stranded by weather conditions and currently at 10,000 ft. on Klutlan Glacier near Mt. Bona. Rescue efforts continue in coordination with the Alaska Air National Guard, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Search and Rescue Team, Ultima Thule Lodge, and St. Elias Alpine Guides.
Tags: wrangell-st. elias national park and preserve rescue plane air national guard
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
