Plane Crash in Alaska: 2 Collide, Killing at Least 4 People

At least four people were killed, 10 others were injured and two were missing after two small planes carrying cruise ship passengers collided in midair on Monday over a remote part of southeast Alaska, the authorities said.

It was not immediately clear what had caused the two small propeller planes, which had pontoons for landing on water, to crash near George Inlet at about 1 p.m. local time. The passengers had been on a Royal Princess cruise ship.

Lt. Brian Dykens, a United States Coast Guard spokesman, said more than 50 members of the Coast Guard were using helicopters and boats to search for the missing people.

Mischa Chernick, a spokeswoman for PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center, said three of the rescued passengers were in serious condition and seven were in fair condition.