JUNEAU, Alaska – The Coast Guard suspended the search for a 52-year-old missing helicopter pilot near Kodiak, Alaska, Wednesday.
Still missing is former hospital executive Andy Teuber from Anchorage, who was reportedly flying a black and white Robinson R66 helicopter.
Coast Guard boat and aircrews dedicated over 13 hours of search time and covered over 888 square nautical miles.
Involved in the search were three MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews and an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, and the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Stratton.
Officials said they could not confirm if debris found was from Teuber’s helicopter.
“The debris that was initially located yesterday evening was consistent with debris that would have been found on the overdue helicopter,” said Cmdr. Matthew Hobbie, search and rescue mission coordinator, Coast Guard Sector Anchorage. “After an extensive search with our available assets resulting in inconclusive findings, it’s with a heavy heart that we have to suspend this search pending any new information. I offer my deepest condolences to those affected by this incident.”
Teuber had recently resigned from his job as president of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium after a 27-year-old former executive assistant had accused him of abuse and coerced sex.
“Andy unrelentingly coerced, forced, and required sex of me,” Savannah Evans, the accuser wrote in a letter. “If I don’t speak up, I will be no less guilty than those who have done nothing but swept it under the rug.”
In a response letter, Teuber insisted the relationship was consensual.
“I have never, and would never, engage in a non-consensual or ‘quid pro quo’ personal relationship with anyone,” he wrote. “The allegations of wrongdoing that I have been made aware of are false, and these allegations and their timing appear designed to portray me unjustly and falsely; to damage my personal and family relationships; but especially to sabotage my recent engagement and new marriage; and to undermine my professional prospects.”
Teuber’s family reported him missing after he did not arrive back as scheduled.
The helicopter was last spotted northeast of Kodiak.
