Alaska
Permafrost expert and military pilot among 4 killed in a helicopter crash on Alaska’s North Slope
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A helicopter crash in Alaska took the lives of a permafrost expert from the Netherlands, a pilot who recently transitioned from the military to fly charter helicopters and two other scientists conducting field work in the North Slope, one of the remotest regions in the U.S.
Ronald Daanen, 51, and Justin Germann, 27, both from Fairbanks; Tori Moore, 26, of South Bend, Indiana; and pilot Bernard “Tony” Higdon, 48, of North Pole, Alaska, all perished last week when the 1996 Bell 206 helicopter they were in crashed into a lake while they were on a scientific mission.
The three passengers were employees of Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources, working in the Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys.
Authorities in Alaska say search and rescue divers have recovered the bodies of a helicopter pilot and three state scientists whose aircraft went down in a shallow lake last week.
A rescue and recovery dive team was deployed Saturday after a helicopter with a pilot and three state workers crashed in a large lake on Alaska’s North Slope,.
Officials say no survivors have been found after a helicopter carrying a pilot and three state workers crashed in a shallow lake in Alaska’s North Slope region.
An Alaska man on a paddleboard escaped a close encounter with a humpback whale that surfaced right in front of him.
Alaska search and rescue divers recovered the bodies of a helicopter pilot and three scientists on Sunday from the sunken wreckage of the aircraft, which went down in a shallow lake about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Utqiagvik — the northernmost city in the U.S., formerly known as Barrow. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.
Daanen, a native of the Netherlands, had an ever-present smile and was also known as MacGyver because he could instantly fix anything that went wrong, whether it was repairing a generator or fixing a broken tent pole, colleagues said.
“He’s such a good-natured guy, he’s kind, he’s caring, he’s good humored,” said Howie Epstein, a professor in environmental sciences at the University of Virginia. During summer field work, they studied permafrost and changes in Arctic tundra in Canada, Alaska and Siberia.
When working on the North Slope, Daanen brought his homemade gin flavored with spruce tips, which Epstein said was “delicious.” On a tiny island in Siberia, Daanen walked in with a chunk of gouda cheese the size of a curling stone, which they ate from at every meal for a week.
Daanen and his wife, Ina Timling, also competed in the World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks. They created elaborate ice sculptures that usually had a science theme, using it as an educational opportunity to teach people about permafrost and Arctic landscapes, said Anna Liljedahl, an associate scientist with the Woodwell Climate Research Center and an affiliate professor at University of Alaska Fairbanks.
“We’ve lost an amazing friend and colleague,” she said of Daanen, who was a geologist for the state.
Permafrost, frozen ground and water were key components of his work, but she said he was a brilliant scientist who had wide and varied interests.
Germann was a state hydrologist with degrees from the University of North Dakota. He paid his way through college by joining the North Dakota National Guard and had to have his parents sign off because he was just a few months shy of his 18th birthday when he joined.
“He’s determined, a young man who chased his dream and accomplished a lot in his life,” his mother Karla said.
He completed an internship in Alaska and immediately made plans to return.
“I don’t think he was ever coming back to southwest North Dakota. That was his dream to be there and kayak and just hike and ride a bike in the snow, which is beyond crazy to me,” she said with a chuckle.
The family had planned to visit Germann in Alaska in September but instead will travel this week to Fairbanks, where they are planning an informal memorial. His mother has been comforted by her son’s Alaska friends, who reached out to his family after his death.
“He had a lot of amazing friends up there, and we can’t wait to meet them,” she said.
Moore was a 2019 graduate from Indiana with a degree in geological and earth sciences. She wrote on her LinkedIn page that she was “interested in biogeochemistry, planetary science, environmental science.”
Her family declined to comment on her death.
Higdon became a full-time pilot in November, going to work for Maritime Helicopters. He had over 2,000 hours combined while flying Bell 206, Bell 407 and Eurocopter EC145 helicopters.
In a statement, the company praised Higdon: “We all knew Tony as the consummate professional and a skilled pilot. He will be greatly missed.”
He previously worked in different capacities at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks after serving more than 13 years as a military police officer with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Higdon’s family were unsuccessful.
___
AP researchers Jennifer Farrar and Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.
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Alaska
Alaska Airlines Halts Flight from Honolulu as Crew Members Fall Ill
![Alaska Airlines Halts Flight from Honolulu as Crew Members Fall Ill](https://beatofhawaii.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Alaska-Airlines-Hawaii.jpg)
Weather is the leading cause of flight cancellations in the United States. For this Alaska flight, it was something completely out of the norm that left those onboard wanting to exit the aircraft before departing Hawaii.
According to reports, Alaska Airlines said that two of the flight attendants on its Flight 828 (from Honolulu to Anchorage) reported feeling unwell due to what is only described as a strange odor emanating from the rear of the aircraft. With these attendants unable to perform their assignments, the Boeing 737-900 aircraft no longer had enough crew members to continue operating the flight. As a result, Flight 828 was canceled on Monday.
Potential causes of the odor on Alaska Hawaii aircraft?
The specific source of the odor remains unidentified thus far, but numerous possibilities could explain the situation:
Lavatory and waste management issues. There’s no delicate way to describe this. Problems such as malfunctioning or overflowing toilets, leaks in the plumbing system, or issues with the sewage tanks can result in foul smells permeating the cabin. Airliners have sophisticated systems, but any issue here might produce noticeable, unpleasant, or sickening odors.
Ventilation-related problems. Airliners rely on complex ventilation systems to circulate and filter air. Any problems in these can lead to air quality problems. Modern airliners use bleed air from the engines for pressurization and ventilation. Sometimes, this can become contaminated with fumes from engine oil or other chemicals, especially if the aircraft is stationary and specific wind conditions are present. These fumes can infiltrate the cabin and lead to noticeable and often very unpleasant smells, which can potentially cause issues for passengers and crew.
Chemical and cleaning products. While unlikely, strong odors may emanate when cleaning agents or chemicals that are used in maintenance or sanitation, if proper ventilation does not occur.
Impact on Alaska Air passengers.
Passengers on the affected flight were obviously frustrated, as is the case in any flight cancellation, but probably relieved not to be stuck in the air for hours if there was a significant odor issue. Alaska Airlines accommodated passengers including providing transportation on alternative flights.
Alaska
Verizon massively boosts network coverage across Alaska
![Verizon massively boosts network coverage across Alaska](https://m-cdn.phonearena.com/images/article/159633-wide-two_1200/Verizon-massively-boosts-network-coverage-across-Alaska.jpg)
The carrier announced that it has recently expanded its network across Alaska, which benefits residents, businesses and visitors in Kenai, Soldotna, Anchor Point, Homer, Seward, Meadow Lake, Denali Park, Two Rivers, and Pleasant Valley.
To make this happen, the Big Red added more spectrum at 89 cell sites across the state, which led to an increased network capacity of approximately 30 percent. The expansion coincides with Verizon’s 10th anniversary of delivering network service in Alaska, service nearly 90 percent of the state’s population.
Verizon is committed to delivering the most reliable network experience and meeting customer’s connectivity needs where they live, work, and play. By deploying this additional capacity, we are providing more opportunities for our customers in Alaska to utilize Verizon’s best-in-class network to connect with families, friends, homes and businesses.
If you’re a Verizon customer living in Alaska, the boost will benefit you in multiple ways. For instance, the carrier will be able to support more network traffic and offer better performance to its customers, as well as add new products and services.
On top of that, the additional spectrum will allow the Big Red to expand the footprint of for its LTE Verizon Home Internet broadband service. The latest expansion is part of the carrier’s multi-year, nationwide network expansion, which has added more capabilities and upgraded tech.
Alaska
US: Two dead in plane crash in Alaska
![US: Two dead in plane crash in Alaska](https://img.ap7am.com/bimg/cr-20240620en6673bb909c672.jpg)
San Francisco, June 20: Two men were presumed dead after a small plane crashed into Crescent Lake on the Kenai Peninsula, US state of Alaska, state troopers said.
Two hikers witnessed the crash and reported it to troopers on Tuesday afternoon. The rescue team took a helicopter and a float plane to the area and located debris in the lake, with no signs of survivors in the water or on the shore, reported Xinhua news agency, citing troopers.
Efforts to recover their bodies were underway on Wednesday.
A Piper PA-18 Super Cub plane with two men aboard had been reported overdue in the area. The plane had departed from Moose Pass and was expected to return to the same area, according to troopers’ spokesman Austin McDaniel.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the ap7am team.)
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