Plane was transporting firefighters to Soldotna
(Alaska Division of Forestry)
All four Division of Forestry employees that were injured in the crash have been medevaced to Anchorage with serious but non-life threatening injuries. Three of the individuals were medevaced to Alaska Native Medical Center and the fourth was transferred to Providence Alaska Medical Center.
EARLIER:
Four Alaska Division of Forestry employees survived a plane crash in the western Alaska village of Aniak today at approximately 4 p.m.
The plane, owned by the Division of Forestry, crashed into the Kuskokwim River on takeoff. There were four people on board, including the pilot, and all four individuals suffered injuries. The seriousness of the injuries is unknown at this time.
Alaska State Troopers and local Emergency Services personnel responded to the crash, The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have been notified and will be handling the investigation.
The plane, an Aero Commander 500 Shrike, was transporting emergency firefighters from two western Alaska villages to Soldotna to support initial attack responses for the Kenai/Kodiak Area Forestry station.
