Alaska Air Guard rescuers pick-up missing pilot
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11/29/2004 - KULIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Alaska (AFPN) -- A civilian pilot is now home and safe after surviving six days in the Alaskan wilderness. Michael Holman had been missing since Nov. 22 and was picked up Nov. 28 by an Air National Guard rescue crew. He had been spotted the day before by a passing U.S. Coast Guard C-130 Hercules crew.
Mr. Holman, 46, walked more than 17 hours to get to an empty fishing cabin after his private aircraft was destroyed. He used a fire on a beach to signal the Coast Guardsmen and a hand held marine-band radio to tell them that he was safe. He also told them had plenty of food, water and other provisions inside the cabin, said Maj. Chris Kobi with the Alaska Air National Guard Rescue Coordination Center at Camp Denali, Alaska.
The missing pilot was outside the 4,000 square mile search zone when the Coast Guardsmen spotted him, officials said.