WASHINGTON, 26 March 2025 (BSS/AFP) — A pilot and two children have been rescued from a small plane that crashed into an icy lake in Alaska, following an overnight search operation, authorities confirmed.
The Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, a propeller-driven aircraft, was reported missing on Sunday night at around 10:30 pm (06:30 GMT on Monday) after it failed to return as scheduled from the Tustumena Lake area in the Kenai Mountains.
A volunteer pilot who was part of the search operation spotted the wreckage of the plane on the frozen lake, leading to the rescue of the passengers nearly 12 hours after the plane was declared missing.
“Earlier this morning, a good Samaritan aircraft located the plane wreckage near the eastern side of Tustumena Lake,” the Alaska State Troopers stated in a press release on Monday.
A photograph published by local media showed the partially submerged aircraft, with three individuals sitting on the wings in the freezing conditions.
Rescue teams worked tirelessly through the night in sub-zero temperatures to locate the stranded passengers, with local weather records indicating extremely cold conditions.
The man and the children were taken to a nearby hospital, where they were treated for injuries that were fortunately not life-threatening, the authorities confirmed.
Dale Eicher, one of several local pilots who had joined the search effort, expressed his amazement at the survival of the passengers.
“I honestly didn’t expect that we would find them alive,” he told local TV station KTUU. “Having been involved in a few search and rescue operations, I’ve seen how difficult these situations can be. This one turned out much better than I ever expected.”
The incident highlights the dangers of flying in remote areas, particularly in Alaska, where vast, icy terrain and unpredictable weather conditions often pose significant risks to aviation.
While search and rescue efforts in such conditions are challenging, the successful recovery of the passengers is being hailed as a remarkable outcome given the severity of the crash and the harsh environment.