Search and rescue crews this evening recovered the remains of an additional individual involved in two fatal floatplane crashes south of Ketchikan.A search and recovery mission continues for two missing individuals. Four are confirmed deceased.Two floatplanes crashed at approximately the same time in George Inlet today within a mile and a half of one another. An Otter floatplane with 11 individuals crashed in the Coon Cove area of George Inlet. A Beaver floatplane with five individuals crashed in the Mahoney Creek area. A total of 16 were on board the two planes.Four victims have been recovered. Ten patients were transported to PeaceHealth Medical Center with severe to life-threatening injuries.The names of the passengers and companies involved are not being released at this time. The Borough is not releasing details regarding the circumstances of the crash.At 12:47 p.m. today, the South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a reported boat crash in George Inlet. Rescuers did not discover there were two planes down until approximately 20 minutes into the incident.The U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA, U.S. Forest Service, Alaska State Troopers, Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad, and Temsco are searching the area. The Ketchikan Fire Department and North Tongass Volunteer Fire Department are also assisting with the care and transport of patients. Allen Marine Tours, which was conducting a tour in the area, assisted with the transport of a number of patients waiting ambulances.George Inlet Lodge also played a pivotal role in the rescue effort, serving as the base of operations for search and rescue.
From the Coast Guard:
JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard, partner agencies and good Samaritans continue to respond to the report of two downed aircraft and are searching for three people in the vicinity of George Inlet near Ketchikan, Alaska, Monday.
Ten people were rescued and are receiving medical care, the extent of their injuries are unknown. Three people are confirmed deceased.
The aircrafts involved were a Beaver float plane and an Otter float plane.
The Coast Guard is searching with the cutter Bailey Barco, an Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, a HC-130 from Kodiak is flying in relief crews from Sitka, and two Station Ketchikan 45-foot Response Boat-Mediums.
Coast Guard Sector Juneau is actively coordinating the search with the following agencies:
U.S. Forest Service
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Ketchikan Fire Department
Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad
Alaska State Troopers
TEMSCO Aviation
"In a remote area such as this, given our limited resources, we rely on our partner agencies and appreciate the support that good Samaritans have rendered to this point," said Capt. Stephen White, Coast Guard Sector Juneau commander. "With the loss of life in this case, we know that the impact to Alaska is immense and our thoughts are with the community here."
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the incident. Preliminary reports to the Coast Guard indicate that this was a mid-air collision between the two planes
UPDATE 2: Coast Guard continues response to airplane collision near Ketchikan, Alaska
Update: Coast Guard confirms the death of another individual bringing the total deceased to four and the total missing to two.
JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard, partner agencies and good Samaritans continue to respond to the report of two aircrafts colliding and are searching for two people in the vicinity of George Inlet near Ketchikan, Alaska, Monday.
Ten people were rescued and are receiving medical care, the extent of their injuries are unknown. Four people are confirmed deceased.
The aircrafts involved were a Beaver float plane and an Otter float plane.
The Coast Guard is searching with the cutter Bailey Barco, an Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and two Station Ketchikan 45-foot Response Boat-Mediums.
Coast Guard Sector Juneau is actively coordinating the search with the following agencies:
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