The agency said it received the radio call from the Petersburg-based Sandy M at about 10 a.m. today reporting that they were taking on water and planning to abandon ship.
The Sitka-based helicopter crew was diverted from a community relations mission and arrived on-scene in about 40 minutes to find three of the crew members in a life boat and two in the water, amid 40 mph winds and 6- to 8-foot seas.
All five were taken to emergency medical services in Sitka. There was no immediate word on their condition.
A Coast Guard cutter crew was dispatched to evaluate any environmental or navigation threat posed by the sinking boat.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.