Total Of 16 People Were On Board The Sightseeing Flights

Two airplanes carrying a total of 14 passengers and one pilot each collided in mid air about eight nautical miles from Ketchikan, Alaska Monday, resulting in the fatal injury of five of the people on board. One person is still missing, according to authorities.

According to a U.S. Coast Guard new release, The aircraft involved were a Beaver float plane and an Otter float plane. "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."  

CNN reports that the Otter was carrying 10 passengers on a tour sold through Princess Cruises. The flight, operated by Taquan Air, was returning from a tour of Alaska's Misty Fjords, according to a Princes Cruises news release. The second plane on a different tour had four passengers on board, the release indicated. Nine of the passengers who had been aboard the Taquan Air plane were rescued, but one remained missing. The release did not indicate the status of the pilot on the plane.

Taquan Air released a statement saying it was "in the midst of an active crisis response, and our focus is on assisting these passengers, the pilot, our staff, their families and loved ones, and first responders."

"Taquan Air has suspended all scheduled flights and is cooperating fully with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other authorities to examine every aspect of this event," the Taquan Air statement read.

The NTSB launched a "Go" team to the accident scene Tuesday morning.

(Images from file. Not accident airplanes)

FMI: Source report