UPDATE: Pilot identified in Susitna River plane crash now in "fair" condition

Authorities have identified the pilot as 50-year-old Shon Parker.

According to a Providence spokesperson, his condition has been upgraded to "fair" following hospital treatment.

The pilot of a downed aircraft has been rescued and is in critical condition according to David Bedard, a public affairs specialist with JBER's 176th Wing.

The crash of the Piper PA-12 was first reported to Mat-Su Emergency Services by another pilot according to Bedard.

Pararescuemen with an HH60 Pavehawk helicopter crew used the "jaws of life" to cut the pilot out of the aircraft.

"It really demonstrated their ability to rapidly get out to a site, locate a downed aircraft, and to quickly assess the situation and use the equipment they have on hand to help the individual," Bedard said in a phone interview with KTUU.

The pilot, who has not yet been identified, was taken to Providence Hospital.

The pilot of a downed aircraft has been located by emergency crews, which are working now to extricate the injured man from the aircraft submerged in the Susitna River.

The crash was first reported around 5:00 p.m. Thursday.

Ken Barkley with Matanuska Susitna-Borough Emergency Services says the pilot has been in contact with emergency services off and on for about an hour by cell phone.

His injuries are currently believed to be non-life threatening.

Willow Fire, Dive team and Alaska Rescue Coordination Center are responding.

A spokesperson from JBER public affairs confirms that an HH60 Pavehawk helicopter crew was responding to the area near mile 79 of the Parks Highway by 5:10 p.m.