MEDIA RELEASE:
Emergency Operation Center Established for Floatplane Incident
Date: May 20, 2019
Contact: Deanna Thomas, Incident PIO, (907) 228-2366
For Immediate Release:
A pilot and a single passenger are deceased after a Taquan Beaver Floatplane crashed in Metlatkatla Harbor Monday afternoon at approximately 4 p.m. There were no other individuals on board the aircraft.
The circumstances of the crash are not being released at this time. The names of the deceased will not be released until next of kin have been notified.
Fifteen members of the Metlakatla Volunteer Fire Department responded to the crash. A seine boat was first on scene.
Two medics were dispatched on board two Coast Guard Station Ketchikan 45-foot Response Boats. Air Station Sitka dispatched one Jayhawk Helicopter, which has since been rescinded to Sitka.
The Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad dispatched a 26-foot rescue boat at 4:56 p.m. with eight volunteers.
Both individuals were brought to the Annette Island Service Unit.
Good Samaritans have the aircraft in tow and are bringing the Beaver to the beach until it can be secured.
# # #
