Cougar Ace Crew Rescued

A Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter and crew from Air Station Kodiak, worked with two Air National Guard Pavehawk helicopters and rescue crews from Kulis Air National Guard Base, to successfully hoist the 23 crewmembers of the Cougar Ace to safety. The operation began at 9:05 p.m, on July 24. By 9:30 p.m., the first seven crewmembers were hoisted from the vessel by a Pavehawk helicopter. At 9:43 p.m., the Coast Guard helicopter and crew had hoisted the next eight, departing for Adak at 9:51 p.m. The second Pavehawk helicopter hoisted the remaining crewmembers at 10:09 p.m., after completing a mid-air refueling from a nearby Air National Guard C-130 tanker. Weather conditions during the operation were overcast skies with 8-knot winds. One crewmember was taken to Anchorage with a broken leg for further medical treatment. There were no other reported injuries. The remaining crewmembers were taken to Adak and are being transported aboard an Air Force C-130 to Anchorage.