R44 fatal in Alaska
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R44 fatal in Alaska
KIAL: Recovery efforts continue after helicopter crash (2010-06-21)
UNALASKA, AK (kucb) - A helicopter crashed on Unalaska Island on Saturday evening, leaving the pilot dead.
Lonnie Kennedy, 48, had just dropped off two passengers and was attempting to take off from Chernofski Point when the helicopter skid caught the ground, causing the helicopter to roll over.
A call reporting the accident was made at approximately 6pm from the Fort Glenn cattle ranch on Umnak Island - where Kennedy lived and worked. The Coast Guard District 17 Command Center dispatched a response team, which arrived at 8:27pm. Captain Gary Gray, an Unalaska Public Safety EMT, confirmed that Kennedy had already died. The two witnesses had departed the area onboard another ranch helicopter by that point.
Next of kin have been notified, according to State trooper spokesperson Megan Peters. Alaska state troopers are currently working on recovery of the body from the crash site. Trooper Daniel Blizzard is leading this effort.
"My concern as a trooper, and the family's concern obviously is to get the remains back to the family," says Blizzard. "We tried to get out there last night, but the weather was just too bad. So, obviously we're trying to get out there now and get this taken care of as soon as possible."
The Coast Guard did not return with the body because they sent a response - not a recovery - team, according to Lieutenant Adam Mosley.
"We are there as a response and rescue organization. We do quite a few land responses here in Alaska due to the remoteness of several locations, but we're not a recovery organization. So, we went to provide medical assistance as we could," says Mosley. "Once it was deemed that there was no medical assistance needed, our crews returned."
Kennedy grew up in Arizona, where his wife and two youngest children are at present. He moved to Umnak Island to become a ranch manager, working for the Alberta-based company Bering Pacific Ranches. Kennedy regularly traveled to Unalaska Island to pick up supplies and to work on the ranch at Chernofski Point. In 2008, Kennedy rescued eight people on the ranch when Okmok Volcano erupted.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
Lonnie Kennedy, 48, had just dropped off two passengers and was attempting to take off from Chernofski Point when the helicopter skid caught the ground, causing the helicopter to roll over.
A call reporting the accident was made at approximately 6pm from the Fort Glenn cattle ranch on Umnak Island - where Kennedy lived and worked. The Coast Guard District 17 Command Center dispatched a response team, which arrived at 8:27pm. Captain Gary Gray, an Unalaska Public Safety EMT, confirmed that Kennedy had already died. The two witnesses had departed the area onboard another ranch helicopter by that point.
Next of kin have been notified, according to State trooper spokesperson Megan Peters. Alaska state troopers are currently working on recovery of the body from the crash site. Trooper Daniel Blizzard is leading this effort.
"My concern as a trooper, and the family's concern obviously is to get the remains back to the family," says Blizzard. "We tried to get out there last night, but the weather was just too bad. So, obviously we're trying to get out there now and get this taken care of as soon as possible."
The Coast Guard did not return with the body because they sent a response - not a recovery - team, according to Lieutenant Adam Mosley.
"We are there as a response and rescue organization. We do quite a few land responses here in Alaska due to the remoteness of several locations, but we're not a recovery organization. So, we went to provide medical assistance as we could," says Mosley. "Once it was deemed that there was no medical assistance needed, our crews returned."
Kennedy grew up in Arizona, where his wife and two youngest children are at present. He moved to Umnak Island to become a ranch manager, working for the Alberta-based company Bering Pacific Ranches. Kennedy regularly traveled to Unalaska Island to pick up supplies and to work on the ranch at Chernofski Point. In 2008, Kennedy rescued eight people on the ranch when Okmok Volcano erupted.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
