Guard Black Hawk flies two stranded boaters and their dog to Kotzebue

Alaska Army National Guard aviators rescued two overdue boaters and their dog on Oct. 6 after the pair's vessel became stuck in icy water about 75 miles east of Kotzebue, north of the Arctic Circle, the Guard said.

The boaters had made it off the water and into a nearby cabin.

The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center opened the mission after the Alaska State Troopers asked for assistance. The Guard accepted the mission and sent a Nome-based UH-60L Black Hawk crew from the 1-168th General Support Aviation Battalion. Two emergency medical technicians from the Nome Volunteer Fire Department rode along.

"Due to the unknown physical condition and ages of the two individuals, we brought along two Nome-based EMTs out of an abundance of caution," said Capt. Jared Scheler, one of the Black Hawk pilots.

The crew spotted the boaters and the dog at the cabin, found a clearing on the tundra and set down. The party flew to Kotzebue, where the Guard said they were released to the Troopers.

In its news release, the Guard said the outcome "highlights the vital importance of having an emergency communication plan when traveling in Alaska's remote and rugged terrain."