(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Thursday evening at approximately 6:00 PM, search and rescue personnel were able to reach the crash site and confirm that all 9 people on board were deceased.

According to information provided by the Alaska State Troopers, due to inclement weather, the body recovery effort will not be attempted until tomorrow. Names of the deceased will not be released until all next of kin have been notified.

A Federal Aviation Administration weather camera shows heavily overcast and gray conditions Thursday afternoon in the Misty Fjords region of Alaska's Ketchikan Borough.
Federal Aviation Administration

Today at approximately 2:06 PM, Alaska State Troopers in Ketchikan received the report of an overdue aircraft with 9 souls on board at approximately 2:06 PM today. The report was confirmed by a Temsco helicopter pilot who stated he had observed the downed aircraft approximately 800 feet above Ella Lake in the Misty Fjords area against a granite rock face.

The FAA and NTSB were notified. Along with the Alaska State Troopers, the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad (KVRS) and United States Coast Guard responded to the scene.

NTSB Tweeted that the agency is sending a go-team from its Alaska Regional office to investigate the sightseeing plane that crashed today near Ketchikan, Alaska.

According to CNN News, Ian Gregor, with the Federal Aviation Administration, confirmed the aircraft was a DeHavilland DHC-3 Otter and that it crashed under unknown circumstances above Ella Lake.

According to a written statement from Holland America Line, the plane was on a shore excursion, sold through Holland America Line ship the MS Westerdam, when the accident happened about 20 miles northeast of Ketchikan, near Ella Lake. The MS Westerdam set off to Alaska from Seattle on June 20.

According to the National Weather Service - Alaska Region Headquarters, weather today has been cloudy with rain with southeast winds 10 TO 20 mph. The evening's forecast is for rain and wind gusts increasing to 30 MPH.

No further information is available at this time. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

Alaska Department of Public Safety
www.dps.state.ak.us

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