In a recent development out of Alaska, a pilot along with two young passengers were successfully rescued after spending the night on the wing of their partially submerged aircraft in a lake. Federal records indicate that the pilot, John Morris Jr., was a student pilot who was not permitted to fly with passengers, leading to the initiation of disciplinary proceedings by the Federal Aviation Administration.
National Transportation Safety Board investigator, Mark Ward, reported that Morris has been unresponsive to federal investigators regarding the incident. He has failed to return calls or report the accident within the 24-hour time frame that is mandated. “The FAA informed me that Morris is a student pilot, with no application for a full pilot’s license, and seems to have a history of disregarding the no-passenger rule,” Ward stated. Currently, it remains unclear whether the plane landed deliberately or in response to an emergency, and Morris has yet to provide clarification.
The airplane, which was reported missing on Sunday near Tustumena Lake on the Kenai Peninsula, was discovered the following morning by a volunteer pilot among many who participated in the search efforts. The trio was found sitting on the aircraft’s wing. Subsequently, a helicopter dispatched by the Alaska Army National Guard flew them to a nearby hospital for treatment of what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.
Ward recounted accounts from the helicopter pilot and rescue crew, suggesting that the plane may have landed near a glacier on the lake, which was partially frozen. The aircraft broke through the ice as it came to a halt and began sinking. There is yet to be an understanding of whether this was an intentional landing or was due to mechanical problems.
“The plane’s canvas or fabric-covered wings acted as flotation devices, preventing it from completely sinking, and effectively saving them,” Ward explained. Morris successfully evacuated the young passengers as the plane was gradually submerged. Though the children’s clothes were dry upon rescue, Morris was found wet and experiencing hypothermia. Additionally, his cellphone stopped functioning after becoming wet, complicating their situation further.
Efforts to reach out to Morris have been futile; even his wife assured on a Tuesday conference call with the federal agency and Ward that he would contact them, but this has not materialized. Federal records confirm Morris was issued a student pilot license in 2018 but has been in violation of flying passengers. This behavior is noted as a common infraction of FAA rules by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Consequences for Morris involve potential suspension or revocation of his license, imposition of fines, and responsibility for covering investigation costs.
According to Ward, if the student pilot illegally flew with passengers and faced an accident, it is likely that any insurance claims would be void, leaving Morris accountable for damages and the task of extracting the aircraft from the lake.