Plane crashes into frozen lake in remote Alaska. The rescue was just like a movie

In a harrowing scenario straight out of a movie, a Cessna carrying five passengers crashed into a remote frozen lake in Alaska over the weekend.

All five survived but were hospitalized with a range of injuries, Alaska Department of Public Safety officials said in a release.

It happened around 1 p.m., Saturday, March 5, “on the frozen offshore waters of Lake Iliamna.”

The lake is remote — 200 miles southwest of Anchorage — and with bad weather, it took helicopter teams about five hours to reach the wreckage, officials said. The five were hoisted from the frozen lake at 6 p.m. Saturday.

“Rescue teams and troopers located a Cessna 206 Aircraft ... that had been destroyed in the crash,” troopers reported.

“All five adult occupants of the aircraft were alive, but had sustained serious injuries. ... (The five) are continuing to receive medical care at Anchorage area hospitals.”

The identities of the five people aboard the plane were not released.

In a March 6 update state officials said one remained in serious condition, three were in stable condition, and one was in fair condition.

The lake is the state’s largest body of fresh water, covering 1,600 square miles and a depth of 984 feet deep at points, Alaska Fish and Game reports.

“Lake Iliamna is an isolated body of water, its shores largely unpopulated,” Alaskan Nature says. “The largest village, Kakhonak, counts only 200 permanent residents. The lake cannot be reached overland. Summer visitors must come by boat or fly in to a single airstrip.”

This story was originally published March 7, 2022 at 12:27 PM with the headline "Plane crashes into frozen lake in remote Alaska. The rescue was just like a movie."