Alaska Archives

Tragic Avalanche in Alaska Presumed to Claim Lives of Three Heli-Skiers

Girdwood, Alaska — An avalanche in a remote Alaskan mountain range on Tuesday has likely claimed the lives of three skiers, according to Alaska State Troopers. The skiers, who were accessing the backcountry via helicopter, were caught in a massive snow slide and are believed to be buried under up to 100 feet of snow, making the site difficult to reach and the chance of survival minimal. The incident occurred approximately 40 miles south of …

Heroic Actions on Board: Flight Attendant Subdues Agitated Passenger During Hair-Pulling Incident on Alaska Airlines Flight

Earlier this month, a dramatic incident aboard an Alaska Airlines flight bound for Portland, Oregon, underscored the unpredictability and potential dangers of air travel. During the ascent from Oakland, California, a passenger became severely distressed, leading to a violent disruption that resulted in police intervention and the cancellation of the flight. Witnesses aboard the aircraft captured a tense altercation on video, which was later circulated on social media. The footage shows a male passenger in …

Alaska Man Sentenced to 300 Years for Triple Murder in Precious Metals Heist Gone Awry

Anchorage, Alaska – Anthony Pisano, a man convicted of the triple murder during a precious metals heist at the Bullion Brothers store, has been sentenced to spend 300 years in prison by Alaska Superior Court Judge Jack McKenna. The sentencing followed a long legal process that included delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a previous trial ending in a hung jury. The victims of the tragedy included Steven Cook, the store’s co-owner and a …

Alaska Whaling Village Tragedy: Teen in Custody After Fatal Shooting

KOTZEBUE, ALASKA – A tragic incident unfolded in a remote Alaska whaling village, leaving two people dead and two others injured, with a teenager now in custody. The shooting occurred in a community where violence of this nature is rare, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit village. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims or the suspect, who has been taken into custody. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, leaving residents of the …

Deadly Shooting Rocks Remote Alaska Whaling Village

Anchorage, Alaska – In a small Inupiat whaling village on Alaska’s remote northwest coast, a tragic incident unfolded at a home resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. Authorities have yet to disclose specific details, such as the exact number of victims involved in the shooting. The North Slope Borough issued a statement on Monday acknowledging the loss of lives and injuries following the events in Point Hope. A suspect is now in custody, and officials …

Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder for Torturing and Killing Alaska Native Woman

Anchorage, Alaska – A man from South Africa has been convicted of first-degree murder for the deaths of two Native women in Alaska. Brian Steven Smith, 52, was found guilty on 14 counts, including sexual assault, misconduct with a corpse, and two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Kathleen Henry and Veronica Abouchuk. Smith was arrested after a woman stole his cellphone and discovered disturbing videos and images on the device. The jury …

South African Man Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder of Alaska Native Women

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A South African man has been convicted of first-degree murder for killing an Alaska Native woman and another Native woman. The jury in Anchorage returned a unanimous verdict against 52-year-old Brian Steven Smith, who showed no reaction in court as the judge read the jury’s verdict. He was arrested after a woman stole his cellphone from his truck and discovered gruesome footage from 2019. The woman, a sex worker who became a …

Aviation Expert Warns of Impending Disaster After Airplane Door Blows Open During Alaska Airlines Flight

An aviation expert has raised concerns about potential airplane crashes due to insufficient oversight by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) following an incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight last week. Dan Gryder, a certified flight instructor and the operator of the aviation YouTube page Probable Cause, expressed his views on the recent incident regarding a Boeing 737-9 MAX, which experienced a door blowout at 16,000 feet. Gryder highlighted a perceived lack of proper oversight by …

Alaska Airlines Allowed Boeing Plane to Fly Despite Triggered Warning Lights, NTSB Says

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that Alaska Airlines allowed a Boeing plane to continue flying despite warnings from a cabin pressurization system. The NTSB reported that brand-new Boeing 737 Max 9 had three instances of warning lights being triggered on previous flights, with two occurrences happening on consecutive days before the aircraft experienced a fuselage blowout on its flight on Friday. Even though the warnings prompted the company to cease flying the aircraft …

NTSB Provides Updates on Alaska Air Flight 1282 Door Plug Incident

PORTLAND, Ore. — The National Transportation Safety Board held a press conference Monday night to provide updates after another day of investigation into Alaska Air Flight 1282, which suffered a door plug failure shortly after takeoff from Portland on January 5. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy presented the latest information at the briefing, sharing key details about the ongoing investigation. During the briefing, Homendy revealed that the pressurization warning system on the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 …