Alaska Representative, Mary Peltola, is mourning the passing of her husband, Bruce, who was killed in a plane crash over the weekend.
Bruce Peltola, aged 62, was flying home from a moose hunting trip near McKinley village, southwest of Fairbanks, when the single-engine plane he was piloting went down.
Unalakleet Search and Rescue stated that Bruce was travelling in a single-engine 1963 Cessna 180, and they received the call of downed aircraft at approximately 5 pm on Saturday. Evidently, Bruce was not able to make it back after experiencing engine trouble, leading to the crash, which was reported near the village of Kaltag.
The Alaska National Guard and Alaska State Troopers were quick to respond, along with search and rescue officials and volunteers from the community, and they discovered Bruce’s body near the site of the crash.
At the time of the accident, Mary Peltola was attending the Alaska Legislature in Juneau. She has since released a statement in which she thanked all those who had extended their support and condolences.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy also expressed his condolences, saying, “Our hearts are broken by the news of Bruce Peltola’s death…Alaskans are in mourning today for the tragic loss of a husband, father, and friend. Elaine and I send our thoughts and prayers to Mary and her family.”
Bruce and Mary Peltola had been married for over thirty five years, and were the proud parents of two children. Many who knew Bruce remember him as an avid outdoorsman, and a devoted and loving husband.
His death is a tragedy, and Mary Peltola’s representative district will remember him in the days to come.
