There are no survivors from a mid-air plane collision that occurred around 11 a.m. today six miles north of Russian Mission. There were five people total on board both planes.
Chief of the National Transportation Safety Board Alaska Regional Office Clint Johnson says State Troopers are on the scene with a Black Hawk helicopter and three NTSB investigators are en route to the crash site.
“Hopefully the team of three investigators will be able to reach the site tomorrow and hopefully be able to document both these accident sites,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he’s receiving conflicting information at this point about the crash and investigators are reviewing the limited radar data available from the area. Where the planes were flying to and how they collided is unknown.
“Basically what it comes down to is see and avoid, however in this case, we don’t know what circumstances lead up to this mid-air collision,” Johnson said.
Johnson said wreckage from both planes landed a considerable distance from each other.
In an email the National Guard said the airplanes were a Hageland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan carrying three people and a Super Cub from Renfro’s Alaska Adventures carrying two people.
A third aircraft flying overheard spotted the wreckage.
The National Guard dispatched a Blackhawk helicopter and two flight medics from Bethel around noon to the crash site. The Alaska State Troopers also responded.
In a press release Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation Vice President of Communications, Tiffany Zullkosky, said YKHC set up an Emergency Operations Center for the following two and a half hours, remaining in close communication with Alaska State Troopers to supply medical personnel, supplies, and emergency transportation.
Behavioral Health Aides are standing by across the region at YKHC clinics to speak with family and loved ones about the crash. Emergency clinicians have been made available in Bethel at YKHC’s Family Center. Anyone who would like to call and speak with an emergency clinician can call 907-543-6499.
KYUK reached out to Renfro’s Alaskan Adventures and Hageland Aviation but could not get a statement.
Original post at 3:45 P.M.
Update at 4:40 P.M.
Anna Rose MacArthur is a reporter at KYUK in Bethel.
