A Coast Guard Station Ketchikan 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew searches for survivors from downed aircraft in the vicinity of George Inlet near Ketchikan, Alaska, May 13, 2019. Courtesy photo by Ryan Sinkey.
JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard, partner agencies and good Samaritans continue to respond to the report of two aircraft colliding and are searching for two people in the vicinity of George Inlet near Ketchikan, Alaska, Tuesday.
Ten people were rescued and are receiving medical care. Four people are confirmed deceased. The nationalities of the people from both planes are 14 Americans, one Canadian and one Australian.
Commercial divers dove on the submerged Otter float plane Monday night and located one deceased individual.
The Coast Guard is searching with the Coast Guard Cutter Bailey Barco, a Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and two Coast Guard Station Ketchikan 45-foot Response Boat-Mediums.
The Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad is searching the shoreline and forested areas near the crash site. Commercial divers remain on scene to assist in the search effort.
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.
The aircraft involved were a Beaver float plane and an Otter float plane.
