ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska search and rescue divers recovered the our bodies of a helicopter pilot and three scientists on Sunday from the sunken wreckage of their plane, which went down in a shallow lake final week on the distant North Slope, authorities stated.
The explanation for the crash is beneath investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The solely approach to elevate the wreckage will likely be to make use of one other helicopter as a result of it’s in the midst of one of many many lakes scattered throughout the huge tundra, stated Clint Johnson, the chief of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska area.
“In Alaska, here during the fire season, commercial helicopters are at a premium. So we are having challenges getting a helicopter to do the work,” he stated Sunday.
The useless have been recognized by the North Slope Police Department as Ronald Daanen, 51, and Justin Germann, 27, each from Fairbanks; Tori Moore, 26, of South Bend, Indiana; and pilot Bernard “Tony” Higdon, 48, of North Pole, Alaska.
The 1996 Bell 206 helicopter crashed Thursday whereas transporting the Alaska Department of Natural Resources employees whereas they carried out fieldwork within the space. They have been members of the Division of Geological and Geophysical Survey.
The helicopter is owned by Maritime Helicopters. In a press release, the corporate praised Higdon. “We all knew Tony as the consummate professional and a skilled pilot. He will be greatly missed,” the corporate stated.
Maritime Helicopters pledged to help the investigation. “We will continue to work closely with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in their investigation as they search for answers in this accident. Our mission will continue to focus first and foremost on a total commitment to safety as we resume operations,” the corporate stated.
The wreckage was discovered close to the small coastal city of Wainwright, which is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Utqiagvik – the northernmost metropolis within the U.S., previously referred to as Barrow. The flight originated in Utqiagvik and was speculated to return there.
Volunteers from the Alaska Dive Search, Rescue, and Recovery crew arrived on the crash web site round 10:45 p.m. Saturday and recovered the our bodies about 6 a.m. Sunday.
Authorities have stated the plane probably is not going to be raised from the center of the 1-mile-wide (1.6-kilometer) lake till Monday or Tuesday, given the dearth of accessible helicopters.
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