Updated: 2 hours ago Published: 2 hours ago

PALMER — One person was killed Friday evening after a floatplane crashed into a lake about 10 miles west of Big Lake, authorities say.

The pilot’s wife was a passenger in the plane and was injured but able to swim to shore and get help after the plane went down in Butterfly Lake, Alaska State Troopers said in an online report posted Saturday morning. Emergency dispatchers received the report of the crash at about 7 p.m. Friday.

The woman “reported that her husband was the pilot and was believed to be deceased as he was still in the submerged cockpit long after the crash,” troopers said. No one else was in the plane, which couldn’t be immediately located, they said. Search efforts were halted overnight due to darkness.

Troopers said the woman was transported by LifeMed helicopter to the hospital for treatment of her injuries, which were described as not life-threatening. The search resumed at 6 a.m. Saturday and the partially submerged plane was discovered by a local on East Butterfly Lake, adjacent to Butterfly Lake, troopers said.

An Alaska Wildlife Troopers aircraft was assisting with recovery efforts and a troopers helicopter was en route to the area with dive team members to recover the pilot’s body, troopers said.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

Ten people have now died in six plane or helicopter crashes in Alaska since the beginning of September, including two separate crashes in mid-September that killed six people.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Recent counts put the death toll from Hurricane Helene and its aftermath at more than 220 people, according to authorities, while hundreds more remain unaccounted for after the storm made landfall on Sept. 26.

A week later, many residents and communities remain isolated, stuck without food, water, power, or communication abilities.

In response, people from across the country – including Alaskans – have deployed to assist those in need in the Southeast region of the Lower 48. Watch the video above to hear from one group that’s working to help in North Carolina.

Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Hospitals across the United States and in Alaska are dealing with an IV fluid shortage after flooding from Hurricane Helene caused medical supply manufacturers to cease production.

Baxter International, the largest supplier of IV fluid and peritoneal dialysis fluid for care facilities, was forced to shut the doors of its largest production facility in North Cove, North Carolina — which was impacted by major flooding and water saturating the building.

In a release Thursday, Baxter described their plans to minimize patient disruption moving forward, mentioning a customer limit on orders to prevent stockpiling saline, dextrose, and peritoneal dialysis solutions.

Alaskan hospitals are experiencing the effects of the shortage. Providence Alaska Medical Center said in a written statement:

“The situation and impact to products and availability are currently being assessed, but in the meantime, Providence is employing various mitigation strategies to ensure there is no disruption to patient care, including strategies to conserve current supply and use of alternative fluids and solutions as appropriate.”

Currently, the situation is not considered dire. In a release from Alaska Emergency Medical Services, State Director Michael Levy said it is hoped the situation will be resolved and production will resume quickly, but there are currently no details available.

Baxter’s statement from Thursday also mentioned their medical affairs team’s availability to advise on possible solutions while supply rationing is still in effect.

Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved.