Following the Alaska Wind Walker’s search, when the fishing vessel capsized off the southeast coast of Alaska, the US Coast Guard halted its search for five crew members who are still missing. Due to strong wind and snow, the 50-foot ship overturned early on Sunday close to Point Couverden.
The Coast Guard sector in southeast Alaska received a distress call at 12:10 a.m. Sunday reported that the ship was capsizing. The ship was located south of Point Couverden in the Icy Strait with the help of an emergency position-indicating radio beacon. The Coast Guard immediately sent out search crews, including the Alaska Marine Highway ferry Hubbard, a 45-foot Response Boat from Station Juneau, and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Sitka.
Although the search teams have not found anyone yet, officials confirmed that the vessel overturned with five passengers on board. Searchers found no signs of the crew, although they did collect two strobe lights and seven cold-water immersion suits from the region. Despite tremendous efforts, the Coast Guard suspended the search on Monday after covering 108 square nautical miles.
Harsh weather conditions, including six-foot seas and winds reaching 45-60 mph, made the search challenging. Petty Officer John Hightower explained the difficulty posed by the storm, as smaller boats struggled to navigate the rough waters. The Coast Guard Cutter Healy served as the primary search platform, allowing crews to rotate in and out of operations.
Hightower responded to the false claims circulating online about the crew being found. They posted on X, “We are aware of reports on social media claiming individuals from this incident have been located. At this time, the CG has not confirmed these claims and is continuing search efforts.”
The Chief Warrant Officer, James Koon, offered condolences and support to the victims’ families. He praised the search team’s quick reaction and attempts to cover the entire area. Officials are waiting for further development so that the Alaska Wind Walker’s search can resume locating the missing crew.
