The US Navy Is Apologizing 142 Years After Shelling and Burning an Alaska Native Village to Oblivion

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Shells fell on the Alaska Native village as winter approached, and then sailors landed and burned what was left of homes, food caches and canoes. Conditions grew so dire in the following months that elders sacrificed their own lives to spare food for surviving children.

It was Oct. 26, 1882, in Angoon, a Tlingit village of about 420 people in the southeastern Alaska panhandle. Now, 142 years later, the perpetrator of the bombardment — the US Navy — has apologized.

Rear Adm. Mark Sucato, the commander of the Navy’s northwest region, issued the apology during an at-times emotional ceremony Saturday, the anniversary of the atrocity.

“The Navy recognizes the pain and suffering inflicted upon the Tlingit people, and we acknowledge these wrongful actions resulted in the loss of life, the loss of resources, the loss of culture, and created and inflicted intergenerational trauma on these clans,” he said during the ceremony, which was livestreamed from Angoon. “The Navy takes the significance of this action very, very seriously and knows an apology is long overdue.” (Read more from “The US Navy Is Apologizing 142 Years After Shelling and Burning an Alaska Native Village to Oblivion” HERE)

Alaska Airlines Almost Crashed Midair Into Another Plane in Oregon Last Week

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An Embraer E175 operated by Alaska Airlines’ wholly-owned regional subsidiary, Horizon Air, reportedly experienced a close call during its approach in Redmond, Oregon, last week. The ordeal prompted the pilots to abort landing and go around the airport.

One passenger onboard the flight recalled seeing another aircraft coming toward the E175 from below. The plane in question was an aerial wildland firefighting air tanker used to attend to the several wildfires currently burning around the state. . .

According to News Channel 21, the Central Oregon local NBC and The CW affiliate, the incident occurred on October 9th, involving QX2083 from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft, registered as N636QX, was approaching Runway 05 at Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) around 12:48.

Two minutes later, data indicates the E175 was only 275 feet away from a BAe 146 air tanker operated by Neptune Aviation Services. The aircraft was flying southwest at an altitude of 3,850 feet, while the E175 was headed northwest at 4,125 feet. Peter Steinbach, one of the passengers onboard, reportedly said the pilot changed course and pulled the plane up to delay the landing.

Data shows the E175 climbed in altitude and flew over RDM. It reached 9,400 feet and subsequently 9,900 feet as it performed a go-around. The aircraft landed safely at 13:12 and taxied to the gate without incident. Steinbach reportedly asked the pilot about the event, and the pilot confirmed that intervention was necessary. Simple Flying reached out to Steinbach, Alaska, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for confirmation of the incident. (Read more from “Alaska Airlines Almost Crashed Midair Into Another Plane in Oregon Last Week” HERE)

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US Soldiers Stationed on Alaskan Island Armed With Rocket Launchers After Russian Activity Detected

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The US has deployed more than 130 soldiers, mobile rocket launchers, and radar capabilities to a remote Alaskan island, amid increased Russian military activity in the region.

The Coast Guard said it located four Russian Federation Navy vessels, including two submarines, 57 miles off the coast of Alaska on Sunday.

In the past week, officials have also detected four separate incursions of Russian military aircraft into the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), an area beyond US airspace where aircraft are nonetheless expected to identify themselves. . .

The exercises follow joint Russia-China exercises that took place near Alaska in July, which led to the first-ever Russian-Chinese bomber task force incursion into the Alaska ADIZ, according to U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).

“These escalating incidents demonstrate the critical role the Arctic plays in great power competition between the U.S., Russia, and China,” he said in a statement Tuesday.” (Read more from “US Soldiers Stationed on Alaskan Island Armed With Rocket Launchers After Russian Activity Detected” HERE)

Carnival Cruise Grazes Ice in Alaska, Passenger Compares It to Modern ‘Titanic Moment’

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A Carnival cruise ship was undamaged after grazing a piece of ice in Alaska’s Tracy Arm Fjord last week — with one passenger dramatically comparing it to a modern “Titanic moment.”

The hull of the Carnival Spirit was assessed and no damages were found after the incident on Thursday, Carnival Cruise Line wrote in a statement to The Post.

The ship was able to continue on its seven-day journey without a hitch and is expected to dock in Seattle, Washington on Tuesday. . .

“If we die, it was damn well worth it,” passenger Cassandra Goskie said in a video she shared on TikTok. “It’s a Titanic moment.” (Read more from “Carnival Cruise Grazes Ice in Alaska, Passenger Compares It to Modern ‘Titanic Moment’” HERE)

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Chinese and Russian Bombers Seen Off Coast of Alaska

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On Wednesday, Chinese and Russian nuclear-capable bombers ventured into the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) off the coast of Alaska. This marked the first known incursion by Chinese H-6 bombers into this strategic buffer zone, prompting a swift response from both the United States and Canada.

According to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the simultaneous appearance of Chinese and Russian bombers in the Alaskan ADIZ is a significant development. While the ADIZ itself is not sovereign airspace, and such incursions do not constitute an act of war, they are provocations that necessitate a robust defensive posture.

NORAD’s command reported intercepting and tracking two Russian TU-95 bombers and two Chinese H-6 bombers. U.S. forces deployed F-16 and F-35 fighters to monitor the situation, while Canada responded with its CF-18 fighters.

While the Russian bombers have entered the Alaskan ADIZ before—most recently in May—this incident stands out as it involved a Chinese military presence. The joint patrol of Russian and Chinese bombers, which was confirmed by Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Zhang Xiaogang, marks the eighth such strategic air patrol between the two nations since 2019. Zhang emphasized that the patrol was designed to enhance coordination between the two air forces.

China’s increasing assertiveness in the Arctic region has been a point of contention for several years. Declaring itself a “near-Arctic state,” China has sought to expand its influence and involvement in Arctic affairs, often using terms like “polar Silk Road” to describe its ambitions. This effort aligns with Beijing’s broader strategy to secure access to Arctic resources and integrate the region into its global infrastructure initiatives.

The Pentagon has expressed growing concern over the expanding cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic. A recent Department of Defense report highlighted the increasing alignment of these two major powers in the region as a significant strategic challenge:

While significant areas of disagreement between the PRC and Russia remain, their growing alignment in the region is of concern

Family of Nine Left Behind in Remote Alaska, Charged $9K by Cruise Line

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An Oklahoma family of nine was left stranded in remote Alaska after their Norwegian Cruise Lines ship left them behind — and then charged the desperate family $9,000 in customs fees.

The Gault family was traveling with six young kids and a 78-year-old grandmother on July 12 when they disembarked from the Norwegian Encore in Katchikan, a small town in a string of south Alaskan islands, so they could watch a lumberjack show together.

But on their way back, the local tour operator transporting passengers to and from the vessel failed to properly check who had tickets and who didn’t — merely conducting a head count — and told the Gaults there was no room and to wait for another shuttle. . .

However, that bus never came, and after frantically calling the port authority to arrange transportation, they finally arrived back at the docks to see the Norwegian Encore sailing away — taking with it their passports, medication and clothes. . .

The family, which had already spent about $30,000 on the trip, was immediately hit with nearly a $9,000 charge from the cruise line — $971 per passenger — for missing the boat. (Read more from “Family of Nine Left Behind in Remote Alaska, Charged $9K by Cruise Line” HERE)

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Think Twice Before Flying: Alaska Air’s Pride Month Celebrations Highlight Disturbing Focus

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Alaska Airlines found itself in the spotlight for reasons beyond their flight operations this past Pride Month. The airline prominently participated in Pride celebrations in three major cities, making it clear that they prioritize promoting their employees’ sexual orientations and a love for drag queens.

They made a point to highlight their employees’ personal lives and their enthusiasm for drag queens. The company’s Twitter handle, @AlaskaAir, was filled with colorful posts celebrating Pride Month, leaving no doubt about their commitment to these social causes.

The juxtaposition of Alaska Airlines’ fervent Pride Month celebrations and their troubling safety issues is concerning. The question arises: are the airline’s priorities in the right place? Shouldn’t the focus be on ensuring the highest standards of safety and service for all passengers, rather than on publicizing employees’ private lives?

The conservative Twitter account “Libs of TikTok” brought this issue to light with a pointed tweet that read: “Alaska Air was represented in 3 major cities during pride month. It’s very important that you know who their employees like to sleep with and that they love drag queens. This is the same airline who had a door fly off mid-flight. Think twice before flying @AlaskaAir!”

The tweet quickly went viral.

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Denali National Park Bridge Crew Ordered to Stop Flying American Flags

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The crew working on a 475-foot-long bridge in Alaska’s Denali National Park was recently told that they could no longer fly the American flag from their trucks or heavy equipment, which are being used in the $207 million Federal Highway Administration project.

The bridge is being built by Granite Construction, after a 2021 rockslide took out a portion of the popular Denali Park Road that is used by visitors and tour buses to access more remote areas of the national park.

Since 2023, construction has been underway to repair the road at mile 45. This spring two mobile trucks and one piece of heavy equipment had been flying standard-sized U.S. flags. . .

According to the contractor, Denali National Park Superintendent Brooke Merrell contacted the man overseeing the federal highways project, claiming there had been complaints about the U.S. flags, and notifying him that bridge workers must stop flying the stars and strips from their vehicles because it detracts from the “park experience.”

Merrell moved to Alaska in 2009 as a transportation planner and environmental coordinator. A Pennsylvania native, she received a master’s degree in urban planning. Prior to moving to Alaska, she worked for the City of Portland and the Gulf Islands National Seashore, along with left-leaning environmentalist and social justice groups such as DNA People’s Legal Services and Columbia Riverkeeper. (Read more from “Denali National Park Bridge Crew Ordered to Stop Flying American Flags” HERE)

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Alaska Man Fatally Attacked by Moose While Photographing Newborn Calves

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Tragedy struck in Homer, Alaska, on Sunday when a 70-year-old man, identified as Dale Chorman, was attacked and killed by a mother moose while attempting to take photographs of her two newborn calves.

According to Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Public Safety, the female moose had recently given birth to the calves in Homer. Chorman and another individual were walking through the brush in search of the moose when the cow moose launched the attack.

“The cow moose attacked Dale as they were walking through the brush looking for the moose,” McDaniel stated. The attack occurred while the two were attempting to flee the scene.

The other individual, who has not been publicly identified, escaped unharmed. However, as they did not witness the attack, authorities could not ascertain the exact cause of Chorman’s death, whether it was due to kicks, stomps, or a combination of both.

Emergency medical personnel pronounced Chorman dead at the scene, after which the cow moose left the area, according to Alaska State Troopers.

This tragic incident recalls a similar event in 1995 when a 71-year-old man was fatally stomped by a moose while attempting to enter a building on the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage. Witnesses reported that the moose and its calf had been harassed by students for hours prior to the attack.

Alaska is home to an estimated population of up to 200,000 moose. While moose are typically not aggressive, they can become so when provoked, especially during calving season.

During this time, cow moose become highly protective of their calves and may attack humans who approach too closely. Authorities advise giving moose extra space during calving season and caution against spooking the animals or getting between a mother and her calves.

“Cow moose with calves are going to be some of the more aggressive moose you’re going to come in contact with,” McDaniel warned. “Those moose will become unpredictable and work to protect their calves at any cost.”

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One Climber Dies, Another Critically Injured in 1,000-Foot Fall From Alaska Mountain

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One mountain climber was killed and another was seriously injured Thursday night after plummeting an estimated 1,000 feet from Mt. Johnson’s 8,400-foot peak in Alaska’s Denali National Park, the National Park Service (NPS) said.

Due to adverse weather conditions, rescue teams were not able to reach the body of Robbi Mecus, 52, until the weather cleared Saturday morning, according to a statement by the NPS. The surviving climber — a 30-year-old California woman — was rescued and transporting by air ambulance to an Anchorage hospital Friday morning, the NPS stated.

The incident occurred on a portion of Mt. Johnson known as “the Escalator.” The two women were roped while climbing up terrain covered in a mix of rock, ice, and snow, the NPS said.

Another group of climbers witnessed the fall, notified park rangers and then climbed down to help the women, according to the NPS. The climbers reportedly confirmed Mecus was killed in the fall and gave first aid to the surviving climber. They tried to keep her warm until morning by digging a snow cave and attending “to the surviving climber’s injuries throughout the night,” the NPS stated.

Denali National Park Superintendent Brooke Merrell said, “We are grateful for the rescue efforts of Denali mountaineering rangers and the two good Samaritans on Mt. Johnson who helped save a fellow climber’s life. We extend our thoughts and condolences to the friends and family of Robbi Mecus.” (Read more from “One Climber Dies, Another Critically Injured in 1,000-Foot Fall From Alaska Mountain” HERE)

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