Alaska News

Search on for plane missing out of Yakutat

The Alaska National Guard and U.S. Coast Guard are searching for a small airplane missing since 4 p.m. Monday when it dropped off the radar near Malaspina Glacier after leaving Yakutat.

The National Guard has an HC-130 in the air searching "by electronic means" for a sign of part or all of the aircraft, Lt. Bernie Kale, a National Guard spokesman, said midafternoon Tuesday. An HH-60 Jay Hawk is flying closer to the water to search for the aircraft.

The Alaska Rescue Coordination center called the Coast Guard to help with the search Monday night, Petty Officer Shawn Eggert said Tuesday. The RCC lost radar contact with the plane about 40 miles northwest of Yakutat, near the glacier that flows out of the St. Elias Mountains, Eggert said. The Coast Guard has up to three Jay Hawk helicopters involved in the search, he said.

A Coast Guard C-130 out of Kodiak flew fresh helicopter crews to the search area on Tuesday, Petty Officer John Klingenberg said.

Reach Zaz Hollander at zhollander@adn.com or 257-4317.

By ZAZ HOLLANDER

zhollander@adn.com

Zaz Hollander

Zaz Hollander is a veteran journalist based in the Mat-Su and is currently an ADN local news editor and reporter. She covers breaking news, the Mat-Su region, aviation and general assignments. Contact her at zhollander@adn.com.

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