Search for Overdue Life Flight Near Kake SuspendedBy MARY KAUFFMAN
January 31, 2019
The Coast Guard searched for an overdue Guardian Flight King Air 200 medical life flight that was expected to land in Kake at 6:19 p.m. Tuesday, however, the aircraft never landed. There were three people aboard and the search was concentrated about 20 miles west of Kake, Alaska. “Suspending a search for any reason is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make,” said Capt. Stephen White, Sector Juneau commander. “This was an extensive search effort in some very challenging conditions. We are thankful for the assistance from the search and rescue teams, Alaska State Troopers, Army Air National Guard and good Samaritans.” This evening Randy Lyman, Guardian Flight said in a news release, "While the formal search and rescue effort has been discontinued and we recognize the gravity of the situation, we will continue efforts to recover our friends in order to hopefully reunite them with their beloved families." Lyman said, "Our hearts are heavy, and we respectfully offer our deepest thoughts and prayers to our lost employees and their families. We will miss Pilot Patrick Coyle, Flight Nurse Stacie Rae Morse, and Flight Paramedic Margaret Langston. This tragedy is dreadful for everyone as they were our friends and neighbors." Earlier today, Randy Lyman, Senior Vice President of Operations, Guardian Flight stated in a news release, "While the Coast Guard and others continue the search for the missing Guardian Flight aircraft off the coast of Alaska, the debris found by searchers unfortunately gives us a very strong indication that it was our airplane. While search and rescue efforts are continuing in an attempt to find survivors, we are resigned to accept that the aircraft was ours."
Lyman said, "On board were Pilot Patrick Coyle, 63, Flight Nurse Stacie Rae Morse, 30, and Flight Paramedic Margaret Langston, 43, all based in Juneau. (Margaret was earlier identified as Margaret Langston Allen, but we have been informed by her family that she was recently married, and her last name is now Langston.) We continue to ask for everyone’s prayers and support as we focus on families, crew members and the entire Guardian Flight team and extended family of all those involved." Although there is an Associated Press article out which stated that debris from the missing aircraft has been found. "That has not been confirmed at this point, said Lyman. "We are meeting constantly with the Coast Guard and others on the search and rescue efforts to include the search pattern on known last position or trajectory. As soon as we have confirmed any information from authorities we will share it immediately. This is a very sad and painful time for families, friends and Guardian Flight." Wednesday, Capt. Stephen White, Coast Guard Sector Juneau commander said, “We have received reports of debris in the water and are concentrating search efforts near that area." Capt. White said, "Through our coordinated efforts with all involved we continue to actively search, we are thankful for the assistance rendered.” Regarding the debris reported located in the water approximately 22 miles west of Kake, near the south tip of Admiralty Island in the Chatham Strait, the Coast Guard said in a news release Wednesday evening it cannot confirm the debris is from the overdue aircraft. The aircraft departed from Anchorage on Tuesday. Watchstanders directed the launch of the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa crew to conduct the search near the last known position of the aircraft. Good Samaritan vessels are also searching the area. Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders received notification Tuesday from Sitka Flight Services that a Guardian King Air 200 medical life flight overdue. Lt j.g. Colin McClelland, Coast Guard Sector Juneau command duty officer said Wednesday, “Coast Guard crews are diligently searching for the missing aircraft and individuals. “We appreciate the assistance of the good Samaritan vessels and we hope we locate the aircraft and people soon.” Tuesday, watchstanders directed the launch of the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa crew to conduct the search near the last known position of the aircraft. Good Samaritan vessels also searched the area. The search continued Wednesday by the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa and an Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, along with a Juneau-based Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 rescue helicopter. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Bailey Barco was en route to the search area at 1PM Wednesday. The Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa is homeported in Petersburg, and the Cutter Bailey Barco is homeported in Ketchikan, Alaska. Also assisting in the search are:
Randy Lyman of Guardian Flight said Wednesday, "We thank the Coast Guard and the other organizations who are working so very hard to find our friends and colleagues. We are focused on supporting our team and their families as the search continues. Please keep those aboard and their families in your thoughts and prayers." Lyman said yesterday, "A search for the aircraft and crew is underway and Guardian Flight has initiated a stand down of the company’s Alaska fleet until further information is available. Guardian Flight will be cooperating fully with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)." The Guardian Flight twin-engine King Air aircraft was flying from Anchorage to Kake. Guardian Flight is an air ambulance provider with coverage across all of Alaska. Weather in the area Tuesday was reported as light rain with overcast skies, 10 miles visibility, 7 mph winds and an air temperature of 36 degrees. Weather in the area Wednesday was reported as a rain and snow mix with overcast skies, 7 mph winds and an air temperature of 39 degrees. The water temperature is 42 degrees with 1-3 foot swells. Kake is located on the northwest coast of Kupreanof Island in the Alexander Archipelago in southeastern Alaska and has a population of 557 according to the 2010 US census. Again, the Coast Guard suspended the search for an overdue aircraft with three people aboard near Kake, Alaska, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The Coast Guard conducted maritime and aerial searches for more than 63 hours with the search concentrated in an area of 240 square nautical miles. Quoting a USCG news release this afternoon,"aircraft debris was located in the search area, Wednesday, and appears to be from the Guardian flight. Despite the search efforts, no other debris was located Wednesday night or Thursday."
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