The pilot and eight passengers were onboard the DeHavilland DHC-3 Otter. The owner and operator of the plane is Promech Air, who acknowledged they had a plane crash and said it was sighted 800 feet (240 metres) above Ella Lake. They gave no indication of the plane’s condition or the likelihood of any of the occupants surviving the crash.
Since their initial reports the Washington Post has said that a “federal agency” reported that all nine occupants of the plane are dead. That report has now been confirmed.
The plane’s passengers were on a shoreline excursion as part of a seven-day cruise ship adventure aboard the MS Westerdam, a Holland America Lines ship. It left Seattle on June 20 and traveled up the Inside Passage. The ship was at Ketchikan, Alaska when eight of the passengers left on the shoreline excursion onboard the float plane.
“We are incredibly distressed by this situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with those on board the plane and their families,” a statement from Holland America said. “Holland America Line is extending its full support to traveling companions of the guests involved.”
The Coast Guard said they received a report of a missing plane at 2:15 p.m.; it was spotted by the pilot of a helicopter who saw the wreckage on the side of a granite cliff. It’s unknown what caused the crash.
Bodies are now being recovered at the crash site.
