Fox News Flash top headlines for May 13
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Six people were unaccounted for Monday and 10 others were injured after two floatplanes carrying cruise passengers taking part in shore excursions collided in mid-air over Southeast Alaska, officials said.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Allen Kenitzer told The Associated Press that the planes collided near the town of Ketchikan under unknown circumstances.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Jon-Paul Rios told the AP one of the planes carried 11 people and the other plane carried five. He added that the 10 injured were from the first plane and the 11th person was among the missing. All five people on the second plane also were unaccounted for.
The planes collided in the vicinity of George Inlet, near Ketchikan
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A spokeswoman for PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center told AP one patient is in critical condition, three are in good condition and the others are in fair condition.
In a statement, Princess Cruises said the larger plane, a de Havilland Otter DHC-3, was operating an excursion sold through the cruise line and was carrying 10 cruise guests along with the pilot. The second, smaller plane — a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver — was carrying four cruise passengers and a pilot on an independent tour.
The Royal Princess cruise ship
“We are incredibly distressed by this situation and our thoughts and prayers are with those on board the planed and their families,” Princess Cruises said in a statement. “Princess Cruises is extending its full support to traveling companions of the guests involved.”
The cause of the collision was not immediately clear. Weather conditions Monday included high overcast skies with 9 m.p.h. winds out of the southeast.
The Coast Guard said it had launched a helicopter crew and two boat crews from its Ketchikan station to search for the missing.
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The cruise ship Royal Princess departed Vancouver for a seven-day cruise on Saturday and was due to arrive in Anchorage on May 18. Cindy Cicchetti, a passenger on the ship, told AP the ship is not leaving as scheduled and there weren’t any details as to how the accident will affect the rest of the trip.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have been investigating the collision.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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