Five killed in Alaska sightseeing plane crash

A sightseeing plane with a pilot and four cruise ship passengers on board crashed into steep mountainous terrain in south-east Alaska, killing everyone on board, the US Coast Guard said.

The wreckage of the single-engine floatplane was spotted yesterday by aerial searchers in the area where an aircraft distress signal had been picked up, said Len Laurance, a spokesman for Taquan Air, the Ketchikan-based operator.