Pilot rescued after iPhone alerts emergency responders of plane crash in remote Elko area
Pilot rescued after iPhone alerts emergency responders of plane crash in remote Elko area
Publish Date: 2026-05-18 09:23:00
Source Domain: kutv.com
ELKO, Nev. (KUTV) — A pilot was safely rescued from a remote mountainous area after an iPhone crash alert notified emergency responders of a plane crash.
The Elko County Sheriff’s Office said the phone sent the alert around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. GPS data from the alert pointed emergency responders to the East Humboldt Mountain Range and south of Hole in the Mountain Peak – an area the Sheriff’s Office said had “very limited access.”
First responders began making their way up the mountain, where they found the plane had struck the mountain at 10,200 feet and above the snow line.
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“The dense heavy cloud cover and inclement weather at the top of the East Humboldt Mountains hindered visibility and prevented air rescue resources from flying any rescue missions in the morning,” the Elko County Sheriff’s Office said. “First responders made their way on foot to the crash site, knowing they may have to carry the pilot off the steep, rugged terrain.”
Around 2:30 p.m., cloud cover and inclement weather began clearing, according to the Sheriff’s Office, allowing a helicopter to respond to assist in rescue operations.
The pilot and lone occupant of the crash was airlifted off the mountainside with only minor injuries.
“This would not have been a successful rescue operation without the teamwork of all involved,” the Elko County Sheriff’s Office said.
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