Photo: Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via AP
Six people died in a plane crash in southeast Alaska, according to theU.S. Coast Guard.
Southeast Aviation LLC. — which the Coast Guard identified as the plane’s owner— addressed the tragedy in a statement.
“Our hearts are shattered at the loss of six people today. We are thinking of and grieving with the families of the five passengers and our dear friend and pilot aboard the aircraft,” the company said, according to the AP. “We are cooperating with the first responders and agencies involved, including the U.S. Coast Guard, National Transportation Safety Board and Alaska State Troopers.”
The plane’s emergency alert beacon was activated around 11:20 a.m. when the crash occurred, and Coast Guard crew members discovered the wreckage around 2:37 p.m., officials said.
The Coast Guard said they sent a helicopter with two rescue swimmers to the site, but no survivors were found. The victims have not yet been identified.
Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via AP
Similar aircraft accidents have occurred in the Ketchikan area over the last few years. In 2015, nine people died after a floatplane slammed into a cliff, theWashington Postreported. In May 2019, six people were killed after two floatplanes planes collided midair,USA Todayreported. Both incidents involved cruise ship passengers.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating Thursday’s incident.
source: people.com
