Plane crashes in southwest Alaska; possible deaths

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A plane believed to be carrying eight people crashed in southwest Alaska and rescue crews were trying to reach the wreckage early today, authorities said.

Alaska National Guard spokesman Maj. Guy Hayes said there are possible fatalities. A National Transportation Safety Board investigative team has been dispatched from Washington, D.C., and was expected on the ground this morning.

Hayes said the Guard was called to the area about 20 miles north of Dillingham at about 7 p.m. Monday after a passing aircraft saw the downed plane. But severe weather has hampered search and rescue efforts.

Hayes said about five good Samaritans were on scene early Tuesday helping the crash victims. He said he was told by Alaska State Troopers that there were “eight or nine” people on board, though a spokeswoman for the troopers, Megan Peters, refused to comment.

She said all the agency could say for sure is that a plane went down and crews were “aggressively” trying to reach the crash site but having difficulty doing so. As of 4 a.m. today, she said she still hadn’t received word that crews had reached the site.

Dillingham is located in northern Bristol Bay, about 325 miles southwest of Anchorage.