Air Guard helicopter flies critically injured worker to Anchorage hospital

An Alaska Air National Guard helicopter crew flew a man with a critical head injury from a remote work site about 75 miles northwest of Anchorage to Providence Alaska Medical Center on Wednesday, Oct. 7, the Guard said.

The Alaska State Troopers asked the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson for help, and the Guard accepted the mission. A 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60W Jolly Green II flew to the site, its crew using night-vision goggles to navigate.

Guardian Angels from the 212th Rescue Squadron rode along. They are combat rescue officers and pararescuemen trained to work in rough, high-risk terrain. The Guard said they gave the injured man advanced trauma care to stabilize him before the flight to Anchorage.

The 176th Wing's rescue units stay on alert for the 11th Air Force and Alaska NORAD Region and take on civilian search-and-rescue missions through the coordination center when they're available, according to the Guard. Troopers lead search and rescue statewide by law, and there's no waiting period to report someone missing, according to the Alaska State Troopers search and rescue page.

On Oct. 1, a wing crew flew a pilot with minor injuries to Providence after a crash about 35 miles north of the base, the Guard said.