11:00 pm update:
The single-engine plane which crashed early Friday afternoon killed the pilot; the four passengers onboard survived.
The pilot has been identified by Alaska State Troopers as Fariah Peterson of Birmingham, Alabama.
Troopers identified the plane’s four passengers as 57-year-old Humberto Herrera, and his wife, 60-year-old Sandra Herrera, both of Juneau; 15-year-old Jose Vasquez of Puerto Rico; and 64-year-old Ernestine Hanlon-Abel, of Hoonah.
The cause of the crash 18 miles west of Juneau remains under investigation.
10:00 pm update:
Four people have been rescued from the downed southeast Alaska flight which killed one.
7:00 pm update:
Agencies have rescued three people from the plane crash which was traveling from Juneau to Hoonah.
The status of the other two passengers was unclear.
The Coast Guard would not comment on the injuries or status of the rescued passengers.
4:50 pm update:
As the rescue efforts for a southeast plane crash continue, Juneau Police have said a survivor of the downed aircraft called 911 at 1:26 pm to report the accident.
It was not clear if that caller was the pilot or one of the passengers.
Original post:
A southeast airline has confirmed that a small plane with five passengers on board has crashed.
Wings of Alaska posted on their homepage:
“Wings of Alaska regrets to confirm that flight number 202 from Juneau, Alaska to Hoonah, Alaska has been involved in an accident.
The aircraft was a Cessna 207. There were four passengers and one crew member on board. The FAA and NTSB have been notified, and search and rescue is in progress.”
The Coast Guard is sending a helicopter and cutter to the search area around Point Couverden, about 25 miles west of Juneau.
This is a developing story, we will post further information as it becomes available.
