Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP134411)
On December 1, 2024, the life of 22-year-old Jacob Hannah, a male from Coos Bay, Oregon, was irrevocably altered by the unforgiving waters off the coast of Alaska. He was one of five crew members aboard the 50-foot fishing vessel, the F/V Wind Walker, when it capsized near Point Couverden, southwest of Juneau. Just after midnight, the U.S. Coast Guard received a distress call from the vessel, with the crew reporting it was overturning in treacherous conditions that included heavy snow, 60 mph
winds, and six-foot seas. The urgent Mayday call conveyed the grim reality of their situation before all communication was lost. An emergency beacon confirmed the vessel's distress signal from the Icy Strait shortly after the call.
The U.S. Coast Guard initiated a large-scale search and rescue operation, covering over 100 square nautical miles in 24 hours. The extensive search involved helicopters, response boats, and U.S. Coast Guard cutters, assisted by good Samaritan vessels and the Alaska state ferry Hubbard. Despite these exhaustive efforts, no signs of the crew were initially found. Search teams did discover seven empty survival suits floating in the water, but it remains unknown if the crew had been able to don them before the vessel went down. After a day of relentless searching in severe weather, the Coast Guard made the difficult decision to suspend the active search, pending any new information. Along with Jacob Hannah, the other missing crew members were identified as Travis Kapp, Alex Ireland, Emilio Celaya-Talamantez, and Michael Brown.
In the days that followed, the tight-knit fishing community was left grappling with the tragic loss. Debris from the Wind Walker was eventually located, and on December 9, 2024, the bodies of two crew members were found on a beach near Hoonah and sent to the state Medical Examiner's Office for identification. Later, Jacob Hannah's mother confirmed that one of the bodies recovered had been positively identified as her son. The case, which began as a desperate search for five missing fishermen, ultimately concluded with the heartbreaking confirmation that Jacob Hannah and at least one other crew member had tragically perished in the capsizing of the F/V Wind Walker. Three other crewmen remain missing.Last Seen: Dec 1, 2024
