Two Chinese pilots made an emergency landing in Teller Wednesday night. The flight originated in Anadyr, Russia and planned to eventually land in Anchorage for a customs check, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The plane was a twin-engine Harbin Y-12E manufactured in China. It was being ferried to Chile, according to Teller resident Jimmy Suglaaq Pushruk, who spoke with the plane's two pilots after landing. Pushruk retired from the Alaska Department of Transportation and was called to the airport Wednesday to help.
After experiencing inclement weather and mechanical issues while crossing the Bering Strait, the pilots planned to land at Nome Airport. According to flight tracking data, the plane descended to 1,850 feet around 5:50 p.m. AKST while approaching the airport from the west, but abandoned the landing attempt.
The plane continued east over Nome then headed northwest toward Teller, where weather conditions and visibility were better.
The pilots made several loops in the airspace near Teller to survey the runway before landing around 6:48 p.m. AKST. Pushruk said the plane had significant icing and was low on fuel when it landed.
Pushruk and other volunteers from Teller were able to communicate with the pilots in English and worked together to tie down the plane with heavy tires from a grader machine.
“Right away they offered assistance, and the pilots were relieved that we secured their plane,” Pushruk said. “Once we got their plane secured, we brought them down to the high school here in Teller. They were able to have a base for the night.”
Pushruk said the pilots lacked adequate clothing for the freezing-cold conditions. He said the small village of Teller has already made the pilots feel “right at home”.
“They're grateful and appreciative for all the assistance and all the help,” Pushruk said. “They think America is really great, and then they're really happy with all the people in Teller and different agencies that are willing to offer assistance.”
Pushruk said the conditions in Teller improved Thursday and expected the plane to resume its journey to Chile after it is repaired and refueled.
