Alaska High School Swim Team On Airplane That Went Off Runway

Retta Race
by Retta Race 5

October 18th, 2019 Lifestyle

A twin-engine Alaska Airlines flight carrying a high school swim team went off an airport runway while trying to land yesterday, October 17th.

Alaska Airlines flight 3296 from Anchorage to Dutch Harbor landed at Unalaska-Dutch Harbor Airport but went off the runway as it tried to stop. 42 passengers were on-board, including 3 crew members when the incident occurred at 5:40pm local time. Weather conditions at the time were described as low visibility amid light rain. (CNN)

City Manager Erin Reinders said she was at the airport to welcome the evening flight and witnessed the incident.

“We watched one [landing] attempt, and [the plane] was going with the wind, [approaching] from the Hog Island side [of Mount Ballyhoo]. Then it went back up [for] a second attempt. It went with the wind again. It did land, so all the wheels were on the ground. And then it wasn’t stopping. It was slowing down, and it was apparent that it was slowing down, but it wasn’t stopping.” (Koco News)

ABC is reporting that 2 passengers were critically hurt and 10 others were treated for injuries. However, the superindent of the swim team’s school, which is located in Cordova, Alaska, told CNN that all students and chaperones are accounted for and are OK.

“At present, all students and chaperones are accounted for and are OK, albeit a bit shaken up,” read a statement posted by superintendent Alex Russin on the school district’s website Thursday night, saying that they were eating pizza and would be “well looked after.”

The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to investigate the incident.

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beachmouse
4 years ago

The Aviation Herald web site is pretty much the aviation incidents version of Swim Swam. They’ve got the event listed as an ‘Accident’ here:

http://avherald.com/h?article=4ce28013&opt=0

Alaska aviation is not for inexperienced pilots- lots of limited runways and difficult conditions.

RBG
4 years ago

I’m sure you were trying for a joke here, but …umm… you missed.

Pineapple
Reply to  RBG
4 years ago

Comedy = tragedy + time. It’s a great joke, you’re only missing the latter

HLSTcoach42
4 years ago

This was a close call. Latest update is one passenger died, but all the swimmers and chaperones are okay. The plane dang near ended up underwater.

Jimbo
4 years ago

Oh my goodness I hope they all stay safe and I hope all injured make a fast recovery

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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