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9 Killed in Alaska Plane Crash
A commuter plane with 10 people aboard crashed in the tundra shortly after takeoff Wednesday, killing nine people and critically injuring one, state police said.
The plane, a single-engine Cessna 208 Caravan operated by PenAir, Alaska's biggest commuter airline, went down in calm, clear weather about two miles from the end of the runway, authorities said.
It was on its way to King Salmon, a community about 75 miles away, with nine passengers and a pilot.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known. The National Transportation Safety Board planned to send investigators.
Richard Harding, PenAir vice president of operations, said the crew had given no indication the plane was in trouble.
The injured passenger was hospitalized in critical condition.
Dillingham is on Bristol Bay, 330 miles southwest of Anchorage.
PenAir is affiliated with Alaska Airlines. The Cessna 208 Caravan can carry up to 14 people.
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