A private plane crashed near Eldred Rock on Wednesday afternoon, carrying three passengers and a pilot.
Lt. Greg Isbell said it was reported by Alaska Seaplanes to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The plane was returning to Haines from Juneau.
“District 17 Command Center received a phone call from Alaska Seaplanes saying they had overheard a mayday, and the aircraft was a Cessna, and they are going to attempt to land on the east side of Lynn Canal, and they are on the east side of Eldred Rock,” Isbell said.
One person was helicoptered directly to Bartlett Regional Hospital. Isbell said emergency responders picked up the other three survivors at Juneau’s airport.
Hospital spokesman Jim Strader said the first patient arrived around 4 p.m. and was taken immediately to the emergency department.
“Shortly thereafter, three additional patients arrived by land. We began treatment,” Strader said.
Strader said one patient was in critical condition and medevaced to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The other three were treated for minor injuries and discharged from Bartlett. Those names have not been released yet.
Haborview staff identified their patient as Martha Mackowiak.
The Federal Aviation Administration registry lists Michael S. Mackowiak of Haines as a certified single engine pilot.
The Coast Guard didn’t know why the plane crashed but was told it could have been an “engine malfunction.”
