Two people died Monday afternoon after their plane crashed in waters near Metlakatla, a week after another deadly crash in nearby Ketchikan involving the same operator.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough confirmed on its Facebook page that “a pilot and a single passenger” had died in the crash of the de Havilland Beaver floatplane operated by Taquan Air. The aircraft reportedly crashed in Metlakatla Harbor at about 4 p.m.
“The circumstances of the crash are not being released at this time,” borough officials wrote. “The names of the deceased will not be released until next of kin have been notified.” The initial response to the crash was from a seine boat, according to borough officials, with more than a dozen Metlakatla Volunteer Fire Department members also responding. The Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad also responded.
“Good Samaritans have the aircraft in tow and are bringing the Beaver to the beach until it can be secured,” borough officials wrote.