Former Republican Gov. Sarah Palin asked for prayers for the victims and family members of those involved in two separate plane crashes in Alaska on Wednesday.
“Please pray for loved ones of Alaska Rep. Mike Kelly, a very good man, a friend to all Alaskans, killed in plane crash yesterday. And please join Alaskans in prayer for missing aircraft with four on board traveling yesterday into Anchorage. May they miraculously be found safe. Thank you,” Palin wrote in a statement Thursday.
The first incident claimed the life of the pilot, the only person on board. Kelly, the brother of Republican state Sen. Pete Kelly, died at about 1:30 p.m. local time Wednesday. His plane — an American Champion Citabria — crashed 17 miles southeast of Fairbanks, killing the 74-year-old pilot, according to Clint Johnson, chief of the Alaska office of the National Transportation Safety Board. A military helicopter that was in the vicinity responded to the crash after being alerted by the plane’s emergency beacon.
The other incident involves a plane carrying four people that went missing on Wednesday morning. The plane departed Port Alsworth for Anchorage, but never arrived, triggering the Alaska Air National Guard to launch rescue crews. Officials searched overnight, but have not been able to locate the plane or its passengers and have boosted emergency response efforts.
National Transportation Safety Board officials are investigating both incidents.
