The cause of the crash was not immediately known, authorities said.
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KTVA, an affiliate of Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), reported that the victims have been identified, including three on a Cessna 208 Caravan operated by Hageland Aviation Services and two in a Piper PA-18 Super Cub operated by Renfro’s Alaska Adventures. “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. Fifteen minutes later, State Troopers reported another aircraft overdue.
Later in the day, an aircraft spotted wreckage of the two planes on the ground near Russian Mission, she said.
Both Alaska National Guard and Alaska State Troopers have arrived on the scene for medical assistance.
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. Emergency clinicians have been made available in Bethel at YKHC’s Family Center.
There are no survivors from a mid-air plane collision that occurred around 11 a.m. today, six miles north of Russian Mission.
Three people were aboard the Cessna 208 Caravan of Hageland Aviation, and two on the Piper PA-18 Super Cub.
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Charles Enoch contributed reporting to this story.
