Susitna River rescue from Alaska Air National Guard

WASILLA — An emergency landing from a PA-18 Super Cub flight that took off from Wasilla on Friday night resulted in the pararescue efforts from the Alaska Air National Guardsmen in the 176th Wing. In a press release, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center Senior Master Sergeant Evan Budd reported that a good samaritan received a cell phone call from occupants of the plane and the AKRCC dispatched a HH-6DH Pave Hawk to land and retrieve both occupants, who were safely transported to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

“The Pilot was fortunate to have both cell reception and the physical capability to call a friend and start the rescue process,” said Budd. “The Pilot navigated the aircraft into the marshy area on the west side of the mouth of the Susitna River.”

The 210th Rescue Squadron and 212th Guardian Angel pararescue team responded to the site of the emergency landing.

“AKRCC emphasized the importance of taking aviation precautions to include filing a flight plan and ensuring that all aircraft are equipped with a functional emergency landing locator transmitter that is turned on during flight,” wrote Major Chelsea Asplund in the press release.