http://www.adn.com/article/20150625/nine-dead-southeast-alaska-plane-crashAviation
Nine dead in Southeast Alaska plane crash
Tegan Hanlon
June 25, 2015
An image from an FAA webcam in Misty Fjords taken around the estimated time of the crash
Federal Aviation Administration
Update, 7:55 p.m.: NTSB Alaska chief Clint Johnson has confirmed all nine people aboard the plane died.
Original story:
A floatplane carrying nine people, eight of them passengers on a Holland America Line cruise ship, crashed Thursday afternoon near Ketchikan, according to the cruise line and troopers.
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Troopers in Ketchikan got a report of an overdue aircraft at 2:06 p.m. Thursday. A pilot with Temsco Helicopters then saw the downed plane about 800 feet above Ella Lake against a granite rock face in the Misty Fjords area, troopers said in an online dispatch.
Holland America Line said in statement that the plane was in an accident about 20 miles northeast of Ketchikan. The plane was a turboprop de Havilland Otter, according to Petty Officer 1st Class Kelly Parker with the U.S. Coast Guard.
The plane, owned by Promech Air, a charter and flightseeing service in Southeast Alaska, was operating a shore excursion sold through Holland America Line, said the statement from the cruise line.
"We are incredibly distressed by this situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with those onboard the plane and their families," the statement said. "Holland America Line is extending its full support to traveling companions of the guests involved."
The eight passengers aboard the plane had been aboard the Westerdam on a seven-day round-trip cruise that left Seattle on June 20, the statement said.
Troopers said the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have been notified. Troopers, the Coast Guard and the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad were responding, troopers said.
Around 4:50 p.m., troopers said the status of those aboard the plane was unknown and their families had not yet been told of the situation.
A Promech Air representative declined to provide immediate comment. According to Promech's website, the company provides flightseeing tours to Misty Fjords National Monument and Neets Bay Salmon Hatchery.
Contact Tegan Hanlon at thanlon
alaskadispatch.