U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka

07/17/2026

07/11/2026

Efficient. Ready. Responsive.
We're always ready to respond. The air crews at Air Station Sitka expertly displayed these qualities yesterday when they medevac'd an oil tanker crew member over 200 miles offshore and transferred him safely to a hospital in Sitka.

07/11/2026

JUNEAU, Alaska — Coast Guard Cmdr. Joseph Plunkett assumed command of Coast Guard Air Station Sitka from Cmdr. Rand Semke in the air station hangar, Friday. Rear Adm. Ralph Little, commander of Coast

07/03/2026

JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard is actively investigating the helicopter crash on Harbor Mountain that occurred June 22, 2026.The four crew members involved in the crash were treated for minor

06/06/2026

A fishing trip in Southeast Alaska turned into a life-changing emergency when 79-year-old Tom Leach slipped crossing a small bridge and landed in a rocky riverbed, suffering a severe hip injury.

With limited access, family and others worked together to reach him while a Coast Guard helicopter from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka launched into the night.

He's still recovering, but he's back on his feet, smiling, and grateful for everyone who stepped in.

Coast Guard search and rescue is teamwork under pressure, and people showing up when it counts most. We're honored to have been part of his story.

06/02/2026

One year later.

What began as a simple walk across a wooden plank after a day of fishing in Southeast Alaska became a fight to survive.

Last July, 79-year-old Tom Leach was crossing a small bridge with his son and granddaughter when he slipped, falling into a rocky riverbed and suffering a devastating hip injury. With limited access, his family and others worked together to move him to safety.

As daylight faded along the steep Alaskan coastline, a Coast Guard helicopter crew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka launched into the night.

“I still remember that Coast Guard helicopter looking for a place to land and the men in orange coming to help,” Tom said. “Those memories are etched in my grateful mind.”

The rescue crew stabilized him on scene before flying him to Juneau for emergency surgery.

One year later, he’s still recovering, but he’s standing, smiling, and grateful for the people who answered the call when he needed help most.

Stories like Tom’s are a reminder that search and rescue is more than a Coast Guard mission. It’s teamwork, training and the commitment to bring people home.

We’re proud to have played a part in Tom’s story.

05/23/2026

Thirty years of service. Two thousand feet of elevation.

How do you celebrate three decades of Coast Guard service in Sitka? If you are Master Chief Laurence Nettles, a rescue swimmer at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, you take a winter free fall into the freezing waters of Indigo Lake.

In the Coast Guard, only graduates of the elite rescue swimmer school are authorized to free fall directly from a Coast Guard helicopter into the water - everyone else must be hoisted down.

But this flight wasn't just about celebrating a legacy; it was about securing our future. Alongside Master Chief Nettles was Petty Officer 3rd Class Christian Santos-Homs, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, actively battling the extreme, high-altitude conditions to maintain his critical operational qualifications.

This is what it takes to operate in Alaska.

Whether it is your first year or your thirtieth, the dedication to the mission remains the same. By continually testing our limits, we guarantee our crews are prepared to respond decisively to any crisis or contingency in the harsh Arctic environment with little to no warning.

Always Ready. So Others May Live.

📸 AUX Don Kluting

05/19/2026

This boat cost taxpayers over $55K and placed search crews at risk!

Why?

Look closer at the device in the rescue swimmer’s hand… That’s the emergency beacon that sent out a distress signal to the Coast Guard triggering a full-scale response involving a helicopter, 2 boat crews, and 2 Coast Guard command centers.

The search was prolonged because the beacon’s registration wasn’t updated, making it impossible to quickly verify if anyone was in danger. Our aircrew eventually traced the signal to this derelict boat, confirming it was a false alarm.

This single incident is part of a larger trend.

False distress notifications result in expensive searches that place our crews’ lives at risk and divert critical resources from actual emergencies.

You can be part of the solution. Here’s how you can help:

• Register Your Beacon: Taking a few minutes to register your EPIRB and keeping it updated is the most effective way to help. Plus, it’s the law! You can do that here: www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov

• Report Accidental Activations: Accidents happen. If you accidentally activate your beacon, call 1-855-406-8724 for a maritime location, 1-800-851-3051 for an alert on or over land, and in Alaska, 1-800-420-7230.

• Dispose properly: Dispose your EPIRB according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Your shared responsibility helps our crews remain ready to respond when it counts.

The name of the vessel has been digitally obscured for privacy.

05/14/2026

Readiness is built long before we receive a call for help.

U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka search and rescue training exercises ensure readiness to respond to crises or contingencies.

Your preparation matters too.

Always let a trusted person know your trip plans before you depart and carry multiple forms of reliable communication equipment when boating or hiking.

Preparation saves lives.

📸 AUX Don Kluting

05/12/2026

Coast Guard crews train for the worst-case scenarios so we’re ready when it matters most.

Recently, crews from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka and the Alaska National Guard tested our response to a simulated dam failure with multiple people in the water.

Scenarios like this test coordination, communication, and decision-making under pressure.

Our rigorous training ensures we remain ready to respond decisively to crisis or contingencies in the harsh and expansive Arctic environment.
Your preparedness matters too!

Always carry multiple forms of reliable communication equipment when boating or hiking. VHF radios, emergency locator beacons, satellite phones, and cell phones are important devices in an emergency.

National Guard
Wing, Alaska Air National Guard

📸 AUX Don Kluting, PA2 John Hightower