A recovery effort is underway after six people were killed in a floatplane crash near Ketchikan, Alaska, according to the U.S. Coast Guard and Holland America Line.
Five of the plane passengers were in Ketchikan as part of a cruise with Holland America Line. The cruise ship, the Nieuw Amsterdam, was making its last stop before heading back to Seattle.
In a statement confirming the deaths of the five cruise guests, Holland America Line stated:
“All five guests on board the plane and the pilot did not survive. We understand that notifications of next of kin by relevant authorities are underway, and counseling services from Holland America Line have been made available to guests and crew who would like extra support. This floatplane excursion was independently operated by Southeast Aviation and not sold by Holland America Line. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims and with our guests and team members who are affected by this tragedy.”
The aircraft was owned and operated by Southeast Aviation LLC, a flightseeing company based in Ketchikan.
The U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers, U.S. Forest Service, and Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad (KVRS) responded to the downed plane.
A passenger on the Nieuw Amsterdam showed me the weather conditions from Ketchikan, AK. "You can’t even see the top of the mountains. That’s how it’s been pretty much all day," he said. U.S. Coast Guard reported "8 mph winds, visibility of two miles” & light rain. @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/BDAuWEmQYw
— Kevin Ko (@NewsWithKevin) August 6, 2021
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the downed plane was located at 2:37 pm. Two rescue swimmers reported no survivors.
“Weather conditions on scene were 8 mph winds, visibility of two miles, ceilings of 900 feet with a mist and light rain,” the U.S. Coast Guard stated.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it would be launching an investigation into the crash to determine a cause.
NTSB sending team to investigate the Aug. 5, 2021, crash of a Float-equipped De Havilland DHC-2 airplane in Ketchikan, Alaska. The team is expected to arrive in Alaska Friday afternoon.
— NTSB_Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) August 6, 2021
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