Overview
- A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter reportedly crashed near Sitka on Monday, prompting an active search-and-rescue response by the USCG Arctic District and local first responders.
- The Coast Guard said rescuing and safeguarding crew members is its immediate priority and confirmed that search-and-rescue assets were dispatched to the scene.
- Officials have not released how many people were on board or the condition of anyone involved and cautioned that the cause is not yet known.
- The service said a formal investigation will be opened to determine the circumstances of the crash, and investigators have not issued any preliminary findings.
- The incident comes days after a separate B-52 crash in California last week, and the remote coastal location of Sitka could complicate recovery and investigation efforts.