10 die after air taxi crashes in Alaska

An air taxi crashed at an airport in Alaska, killing all 10 people on board.

National Transportation Safety Board investigator Clint Johnson said the pilot and nine passengers were killed at Soldotna Airport yesterday.

Meagan Peters of Alaska State Troopers says the fixed-wing aircraft was engulfed in flames before firefighters could get to the plane. The victims have not yet been identified.

Mr Johnson says initial reports said the accident happened as the plane took off.

Flying across the vast northern state is common for Alaska residents, despite hazards including treacherous mountain passes and volatile weather.

The Soldotna crash comes a day after a far larger Asiana flight crashed at San Francisco’s airport.