martes, 14 de mayo de 2019

Coast Guard continues response to airplane collision near Ketchikan, Alaska

A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew hovers while searching for a survivor from a report of two aircraft colliding in the vicinity of George Inlet near Ketchikan, Alaska, May 13, 2019. Ten survivors of the crash had reportedly swam to shore and were rescued by Coast Guard aircrews while the search continues for two people still reported to be missing from the crash. Courtesy photo by Ryan Sinkey.

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 poeple 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 cutter Bailey Barco,​ an Air Station Sitka MH-60​ Jayhawk helicopter crew and two​ 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.
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. The Coast Guard, Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad, good Samaritans and multiple other agencies have searched extensively and continue to search for survivors from the crash. Courtesy photo.

-USCG-