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Pilot rescued after floatplane makes emergency landing in Mendenhall River next to airport
Updated: Aug 14
By Jasz Garrett
Juneau Independent
This article has been updated with the additional information that the plane was retrieved from the river.
An Alaska Seaplanes floatplane made an emergency landing at the mouth of the flooded Mendenhall River immediately after takeoff from Juneau International Airport on Thursday morning. The uninjured pilot was rescued after the river's force carried the aircraft into trees lodged downstream.
The incident occurred at about 11:17 a.m. when the de Havilland Beaver took off from the airport’s floatplane pond. The pilot was the only person aboard, according to a statement issued by Alaska Seaplanes. The river was at or near the major flood stage of 14 feet at the time, according to National Weather Service Juneau.
“The aircraft landed safely but subsequently drifted into a root ball floating in the river,” according to the Alaska Seaplanes statement.
Capital City Fire/Rescue retrieved the uninjured pilot using a rescue boat. Alaska Seaplanes stated he “is with Alaska Seaplanes personnel now, who are actively working to recover the plane from Mendenhall River.”
The plane was recovered later Thursday from Mendenhall River and taken back to the airport with assistance from Temsco Helicopters.
A maintenance crew from Alaska Seaplanes is examining and assessing damage to the aircraft, according to an updated social media post.
• Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz@juneauindependent.com or (907) 723-9356.
