Sitka Helicopter Crash
U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Crashes Near Sitka, Alaska; Search and Rescue Launched
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Key Points
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The crash occurred just after 11 a.m. local time near Sitka, Alaska.
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The MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter typically has a crew of four, providing context on potential crew size.
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Coast Guard Arctic District described the incident as a reported crash and said first responders and search-and-rescue assets were responding, with a formal investigation planned to determine the circumstances.
A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed near Harbor Mountain outside Sitka, Alaska, on the morning of June 22, injuring all four crew members aboard. Coast Guard Arctic District confirmed the crash occurred during a routine training flight, with no fatalities reported as of early afternoon.
Emergency responders from Sitka Fire and Rescue reached the crash site roughly one hour after the first distress call came in at 10:07 a.m. local time. All four crew members were taken to Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center in Sitka for evaluation. The severity of their injuries has not been disclosed.
Training Flight Ends on Harbor Mountain Slope
The helicopter went down on Harbor Mountain, northwest of downtown Sitka. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Arctic District command center in Juneau got the first crash report at 10:07 a.m. Rescue crews arrived on scene by 11:00 a.m. and located all four crew members, according to Alaska's News Source.
By 11:45 a.m., all four were transported to Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center. Petty Officer Ashly Murphy, a Coast Guard spokesperson, confirmed the flight was a "routine training flight." The Coast Guard said a formal investigation will determine what caused the crash. No other details about the crew's condition have been released.
Coast Guard Puts Crew Safety First, Probe Ahead
The Coast Guard Arctic District released an official statement saying: "The safety, well-being, and rescue of our crew members is our absolute, immediate priority." Officials added that a formal investigation will be conducted to find out what happened. They did not speculate on the cause or the extent of injuries.
The MH-60 Jayhawk typically carries a crew of four, which matches the number aboard this flight. The aircraft is valued at roughly $30 million to $50 million, according to general aviation data. Air Station Sitka normally operates three to four helicopters, meaning the loss of one airframe cuts SAR capacity for Southeast Alaska during the busy summer season.
Sitka Has Seen This Before — 2023 Crash Killed No One But Scarred the Base
This is the second major Jayhawk crash at Air Station Sitka in less than three years. On November 13, 2023, a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk crashed on Read Island during a rescue mission for a flooding vessel called the Lydia Marie. Two crew members were seriously injured in that crash, according to KCAW News.
A federal investigation into that 2023 crash, completed in November 2024, found the cause was "controlled flight into terrain." That means the helicopter was flying normally but hit the ground because the pilot lost situational awareness. The rugged, fog-prone mountains around Sitka are considered one of the most demanding environments for low-altitude helicopter flight in the country.
A Sitka Community That Depends on These Crews
Sitka sits about 95 miles from Juneau, isolated by ocean and mountains. The town relies heavily on Coast Guard air crews for medical evacuations and maritime rescues during Alaska's brutal winters and active fishing seasons. Local residents often call the sound of the Jayhawk a "sound of comfort" during storms, KCAW News reported.
The June 22 crash comes amid a string of high-profile U.S. aviation accidents in mid-2026. A skydiving plane in Missouri killed 12 people on June 14. A B-52 crashed at Edwards Air Force Base on June 15, killing all eight aboard. Analysts say the Coast Guard may order a fleet-wide safety review if early evidence points to a mechanical problem with the MH-60T variant, according to Pottstown Mercury.
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