Coast Guard, State Troopers responding to report of downed aircraft near Juneau, Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska - Crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Liberty, homeported in Auke Bay, navigate through Southeast Alaska waters Monday, May 31, 2011. The Liberty is the 34th of the Coast Guard's 49 110-foot patrol boats and is named after Liberty Island in New York Harbor. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy Wright.JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard and Alaska State Troopers are investigating a report of a downed aircraft 18 miles west of Juneau, near Point Couverden, Friday.

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Liberty have been dispatched to investigate.

Coast Guard 17th District command center watchstanders received an emergency beacon alert Friday afternoon. Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders assumed the role of search and rescue mission coordinator and directed launch of response assets.

“Our primary concern is getting assets on scene to verify the nature of the emergency,” said Cmdr. Patrick Hilbert, deputy commander, Sector Juneau. “Once there, our assets will focus on providing assistance as necessary.”


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