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| photo:https://www.wbko.com |
A devastating helicopter crash
on Alaska's North Slope has left no survivors, according to officials from the
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The accident occurred on Thursday
night, involving a Bell 206L-4 craft operated by Maritime Helicopters, a
private charter company based in Homer.
The helicopter was carrying
four individuals and was reportedly on its way back to Utqiagvik from a
mission, although the exact origin of the mission remains unclear.
The incident came to light
when three employees from the Division of Geological and Geophysical Survey,
who were conducting field work near Utqiagvik, failed to check in on Thursday
night as planned.
The Alaska Department of
Natural Resources promptly initiated a search and rescue effort in coordination
with the North Slope Borough Department of Search and Rescue and the Alaska
Department of Public Safety.
The search team made a grim
discovery when they found the wreckage of the downed helicopter partially submerged
in a shallow lake approximately 51 miles southwest of Utqiagvik. The NTSB has
since launched an investigation into the crash, working closely with the North
Slope Borough Search and Rescue team.
Maritime Helicopters lost
contact with the aircraft around 7 or 8 p.m. on Thursday, as indicated by an
electronic tracking system, leading to an overdue call. The North Slope Borough
Search and Rescue team was alerted about the missing helicopter at around 11:20
p.m. on the same night, between the villages of Wainwright and Atqasuk.
As the investigation unfolds,
authorities are in close communication with the families of those involved,
providing updates on the situation. The community and the Department of Natural
Resources are keeping the affected families, the pilot, and the team members in
their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
The helicopter crash has sent
shockwaves through the region, prompting authorities to examine the possible
causes of the tragic incident. The NTSB, along with other agencies, will
thoroughly investigate the circumstances leading to the crash in hopes of
preventing similar tragedies in the future.
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