Crowdfunding Campaign Established To Help Owners Make Repairs

On the night of June 1, someone went up and down rows of airplanes tied down at Merrill Field in Anchorage, AK, slashing the tires on 87 of the airplanes.

The culprit has not been found, and the airplanes, which are vital to life in Alaska, are grounded until new tires can be purchased and installed.

That's an expensive proposition, so an individual named Chris Palmer has established a GoFundMe page to collect donations to help the owners of the airplanes get them flying again.

"Tires for these aircraft can cost thousands of dollars. For some pilots, that may be very hard to swallow," Palmer wrote in his appeal on the crowdfunding site.

"This campaign will offer as a way for pilots to get back into the air swiftly, and take less of a hit on their pocket book.

"Make no mistake- Alaskans are tough. They'll pull together and get back in the air somehow. When it comes to their pocketbook, as a fellow Alaskan, I'd like to see these fine aviators take a minimal hit because of some guy's stupidity."

Palmer said that there are other social media efforts that have been established to help, and at least one company is offering a discount on tires, but is rapidly running out of stock.

The effort is off to something of a slow start, and the goal is a large one ... $25,000. You can learn more and donate if you wish at the FMI link below.

Meanwhile, television station KTUU reports that Anchorage police say that an unknown number of suspects were able to access the airport on foot from the south. The vandalism took place sometime between 0100 and 0500 local time. A cash reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Anchorage Police Department at (907) 786-8900.

(Image posted to GoFundMe)

FMI: www.gofundme.com/27mw3bvw