Authorities reported six people who were confirmed dead after a sightseeing plane crashed in Southeast Alaska due to poor weather conditions.
While the crash occurred on Thursday, the Alaska State Troopers only identified the casualties composed of the pilot and five passengers late Saturday.
Based on the initial crash investigation, the aircraft went down as the pilot was returning the passengers to Ketchikan from Misty Fjords National Monument.
The pilot was identified as Rolf Lanzendorfer, 64, of Cle Elum, Washington.
The five passengers were identified as Mark Henderson, 69, and Jacquelyn Komplin, 60, both of Napa, California; Andrea McArthur, 55, and Rachel McArthur, 20, both of Woodstock, Georgia; and Janet Kroll, 77, of Mount Prospect, Illinois.
Additional investigation reveals that the five passengers were on an excursion off the Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam.
Ketchikan is a popular stop for cruise ships visiting Alaska, and cruise ship passengers can take various sightseeing excursions while in port.
It was also discovered that the plane’s emergency beacon was activated about 11:20 a.m. Thursday when it crashed near the monument.
Furthermore, the Alaska State Troopers said the bodies of the six people who died will be taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage.
JOIN US ON WHAT'SAPP, TO GET INSTANT STATUS UPDATES AND BE IN THE KNOW.
CLICK HERE
