An an amphibious plane made an emergency landing in Lutak Inlet Wednesday about a mile north of the ferry terminal.
No injuries were reported in the incident involving an Alaska Seaplanes DeHavilland Beaver.
Mechanical issues caused a loss of fuel pressure, forcing pilot Sam Stensland, who was en route from Juneau to Skagway with one passenger, to call in a mayday and land on the water.
The plane was scheduled to land at Skagway airport and diverted into Lutak Inlet after losing power near Taiya Point at around noon.
After the landing, passenger Richard Hudler was taken to shore in a a Haines Borough harbormaster skiff. Pilot Stensland was able to fly the plane to the Haines airport, where it was met by a company mechanic, said Carl Ramseth, Seaplanes’ general manager.
The plane was back in service by the end of the day, Ramseth said. “We’re thankful for the pilot’s aptitude and ability, and the help of our staff and other Haines rescue responders who showed up,” Ramseth said.
Hudler flew on to Skagway on another Seaplanes flight a short time later.
Hudler, a traveling elevator repairman, told KHNS: “It wasn’t too bad, actually. He was a good pilot and he was pretty cool, so … if he ain’t worried, I ain’t worried.”
Amphibious Beavers fly with their wheels pulled up into their pontoons. Wheels are lowered when a pilot activates landing gear on approaching a runway, Ramseth said