The bodies of a helicopter pilot and three scientists have been recovered in Alaska after the plane crashed into a shallow lake in the state’s North Slope region on Thursday, according to officials.
The dead have been identified as Ronald Dannen (51), Justin German (27), Tory Moore (26) and pilot Bernard “Tony” Higdon (48), reports the AP. The helicopter, a Bell 206, carrying Alaska Department of Natural Resources employees crashed while they were conducting fieldwork in the area.
Meanwhile, Clint Johnson, chief of the Alaska region of the National Transportation Safety Board, said the wreckage of the helicopter could only be retrieved with the help of another helicopter. “During fire season here in Alaska, commercial helicopters are at a premium. So we’re having challenges getting helicopters to do the job,” he said.
The wreckage was found in a shallow lake near Wainwright, about 50 miles south to southwest of the northernmost town in the US, Utkiagwik, formerly known as Barrow. Johnson had earlier said that the flight had started from Utkiagwik and was to return there.
The helicopter was operated by Maritime Helicopters Inc., according to a statement on the company’s website. It confirmed that the crash was fatal and said that the names of the pilot and passengers would be released pending notification of next of kin. The borough notified the Federal Aviation Administration and state officials as well as the NTSB, Foske said. “The borough is here to help and we will pray for those missing,” he added.
The company praised Higdon in a statement saying, “We all knew Tony as an accomplished professional and skilled pilot. He will be greatly missed.”
Read this also | America: Helicopter carrying state personnel crashes in Alaska lake; no survivors found