USCG MH-60 Jayhawk Crashes Near Sitka Alaska June 2026

This is a developing story. Information may change as official details are released.

This article summarizes reporting by The Associated Press by Josh Funk.

Four United States Coast Guard (USCG) personnel sustained injuries when their Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters crashed near Harbor Mountain in Sitka, Alaska, on June 22, 2026. All crew members survived the accident and were transported to a local medical facility for treatment.

The aircraft was assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Sitka and was conducting a routine training flight at the time of the crash. According to official statements from the USCG and local emergency responders, the cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Emergency response and rescue operations

At 10:07 a.m. local time (18:07 UTC), the Coast Guard Arctic District command center received an initial distress signal via a personal locator beacon (PLB). Three minutes later, the Sitka Fire Department received a disconnected 911 call. According to a statement from the City and Borough of Sitka, a dispatcher returned the call and obtained confirmation of a helicopter crash on Harbor Mountain.

Sitka Interim Fire Chief Brian McLaughlin arrived at the crash site at 10:35 a.m. local time. An ambulance carrying five rescue personnel reached the scene shortly after. By 11:00 a.m., rescue crews had transported all four USCG crew members to Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center. The exact nature and severity of their injuries have not been officially disclosed by the Coast Guard or the hospital.

Investigation and safety protocols

The USCG has initiated a formal investigation to determine the factors leading to the crash. In a public statement, the Coast Guard noted that the cause is currently unknown, adding that a formal inquiry will examine the circumstances surrounding the event.

Another official USCG statement emphasized that the immediate priority remains the safety and well-being of the involved personnel.

AirPro News analysis

Search and rescue (SAR) training in the Alaskan theater presents inherent environmental and operational challenges. The loss or severe damage of a Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk represents a reduction in available SAR assets for the Coast Guard Arctic District, a region heavily reliant on rotary-wing capabilities for maritime and inland emergency response. We anticipate the forthcoming investigation will follow standard military aviation protocols, examining weather conditions, mechanical performance, and flight data to determine the sequence of events.

Sources: The Associated Press