KETCHIKAN, Alaska — A mid-air collision Monday afternoon between two float planes near Ketchikan, Alaska, left at least four people dead, 10 injured and two missing, according to authorities.
The Coast Guard, partner agencies and good Samaritans are responding to the report of two downed aircraft in the vicinity of George Inlet near Ketchikan, Alaska. https://t.co/TEOFjenp2M
— USCGAlaska (@USCGAlaska) May 13, 2019
Update 12:51 a.m. EDT May 15: Alaska State Troopers have identified the victims who died in the crash, Canada's Global News is reporting. They include pilot Randy Sullivan, 46; Simon Bodie, 56, of Tempe, Australia; Cassandra Webb, 62, of St. Louis; Ryan Wilk, 39, of Utah; Elsa Wilk, 37, of Richmond, British Columbia; and Louis Botha, 46, of San Diego.
According to Alaska State Troopers, the people who died on board the plane crash:
— Aaron McArthur (@Aaron_GlobalBC) May 15, 2019
Randy Sullivan 46 pilot
Simon Bodie 56 from Tempe Australia
Cassandra Webb 62 from St. Louis Missouri
Ryan Wilk 39 from Utah
Louis Botha 46 from San Diego, California
Elsa Wilk 37 from Richmond BC
Update 11:50 p.m. EDT May 14: The U.S. Coast guard has confirmed two more deaths related to the collision between two float planes Monday afternoon over George Inlet, bringing the death toll to six, according to The Associated Press.
The planes were carrying passengers from the the Royal Princess cruise ship on an aerial sightseeing tour when the two planes collided.
Authorities identified one of the victims as a Canadian citizen Tuesday, according to Canadian broadcaster CTV.
The U.S. Coast Guard has released two photos of the scene of a fatal float plane crash in Alaska. Developing story: https://t.co/aVdZ0gRXlH pic.twitter.com/o5QEaIqHb4
— CTV Vancouver (@CTVVancouver) May 14, 2019
There's no word on what happened or how the planes could have collided.
Original report: The planes were carrying tourists from a Princess Cruise ship on sightseeing flights near George Inlet when the crash happened just after 1 p.m. local time, according to authorities. The passengers were from the cruise ship Royal Princess.
"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," officials with Princess Cruises said in a statement.
All the passengers killed in the crash were aboard a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver plane, cruise line officials told USA Today. The other plane, a de Havilland Otter DHC-3, was carrying 11 people.
In a statement released early Tuesday, U.S. Coast Guard officials said four people were confirmed dead after the crash, down from the five reported dead Monday by cruise line officials. Canadian authorities confirmed in a statement obtained by CBC News that one of the victims was a Canadian citizen. The person's identity and the identities and nationalities of the other three victims were not immediately released.
Marty West, a spokeswoman for PeaceHealth Ketchickan Medical Center, told The Associated Press six injured passengers remained at the hospital Tuesday in good or fair condition.
Four others injured in the crash were flown to Seattle's Harborview Medical Center for treatment, according to the AP. A spokeswoman for the hospital told the AP the injuries "fractures to ribs, pelvis, arm and spine."
It was not immediately clear why the planes collided. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
NTSB launching Go Team to investigate midair collision involving a DHC-2 and a DHC-3T about 10 miles northeast of Ketchikan, Alaska at about 1 pm ADT today. Media availability will be at Hangar 6 at DCA airport at 8:00 am EDT Tuesday morning, just before team departs.
— NTSB_Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) May 14, 2019
Cox Media Group
