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Coast Guard Helicopter Crashes in Sitka Training, Four Hospitalized

6/23/2026

43 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed near Sitka, Alaska while conducting a simulated medical-emergency exercise for SAREX 2026.
Sitka Fire and Rescue crews arrived at about 11:00 a.m., moved the four crew members to the local hospital.
The Coast Guard prioritized crew safety, launched a formal investigation, and imposed temporary flight restrictions a few miles east of Sitka near Rocky Gutierrez Airport.

History

Historical Context

The Coast Guard introduced the HH-60J Jayhawk in 1990, redesignating it MH-60T in 2007. By November 2023 four Jayhawks had crashed, two fatally, and a November 13 incident near Read Island injured four crew. The 2026 SAREX crash in Sitka repeats this pattern, prompting another flight suspension and calls for stricter maintenance and funding.

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Story summary

A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed near Sitka, Alaska while conducting a simulated medical-emergency exercise for SAREX 2026.
Sitka Fire and Rescue crews arrived at about 11:00 a.m., moved the four crew members to the local hospital.
The Coast Guard prioritized crew safety, launched a formal investigation, and imposed temporary flight restrictions a few miles east of Sitka near Rocky Gutierrez Airport.

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