Five people are dead and another is missing after two floatplanes carrying cruise passengers crashed into one another in southeast Alaska on Monday.
Princess Cruises said that all four passengers and a pilot in a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver were killed after slamming into a larger de Havilland DHC-3 Otter Monday afternoon near Ketchikan, Alaska.
“We are deeply saddened to report this news and our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their lives and the families of those impacted by today’s accident,” Princess Cruises said in a statement. “Princess Cruises is extending its full support to traveling companions of the guests involved.”
The Otter floatplane had 11 people aboard. Ten of those people were injured in the crash, and another is missing. PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center told the Associated Press that three of the injured victims are in good condition, one is in critical condition, and the others are in fair condition.
Lt. Brian Dykens, a Coast Guard public affairs officer, said the Coast Guard has deployed a C-130 aircraft to aid the search operations by transporting helicopter relief crews.
“That will allow the Coast Guard to pretty much land those helicopters in Ketchikan and just swap out the crews in a timely manner, instead of having those helicopters fly back to Sitka, pick up new crews and fly back,” he said, according to the Ketchikan Daily News. “So we’ll save time and resources in that effort.”
A helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka and two 45-feet response boats were also sent to respond to the accident.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the matter further, along with the National Transportation Safety Board.
