Alaska State Troopers say there are “no survivors” after two planes collided over Russian Mission, Alaska on Wednesday, 31 August.
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It’s not known why the midair crash happened about 376 miles west of Anchorage, said Allen Kenitzer, with the Federal Aviation Administration office of communications. “However, in this case we don’t know what circumstances led up to this mid-air collision”.
The crash scene covers a large area that is accessible only by helicopter, said Clint Johnson, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska division, and the cause is being investigated.
A string of crashes in 2013 and 2014 placed Hageland under close scrutiny, the Dispatch reported, but improvements have been made, and Johnson said the company’s troubles are “in the past”.
The Cessna belonged to Hageland Aviation Services, a regional airline, and the Piper was operated by Renfro’s Alaskan Adventures, she added.
Skies were sunny when the crash occurred, Alaska Dispatch News reports.
All of those on board both aircraft were killed, Alaska National Guard spokeswoman Candis Olmstead said.
Alaska is a sparsely populated US state more than twice the size of Texas, and residents in remote areas rely on small planes for travel, recreation and mail delivery.
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Rescue workers flew by helicopter to the crash site from Bethel, about 100 kilometres south of Russian Mission.
