Small plane crashes in water next to remote Alaska coastal town

A small plane crashed into shallow waters near the remote coastal town of Seldovia, Alaska, on Wednesday, leaving rescuers to wait for the tide to recede in order to reach the wreckage, according to officials. The cause of the crash, which occurred just after takeoff from Seldovia's airport, remains unclear, with the number of people on board and whether any survived yet unknown.

The aircraft, a Piper PA-24-260, was submerged in around 15 feet of water in the Seldovia Slough, situated near the shore. The National Transportation Safety Board's Alaska region chief, Clint Johnson, confirmed that the plane had the capacity to carry one to four passengers. State troopers are currently awaiting the tide to go out on Wednesday evening to access the site.

The NTSB is conducting an investigation into the incident. In a separate incident occurring less than a week prior, another plane crashed at a remote military site in western Alaska, resulting in the fatalities of all eight individuals on board. The aircraft was attempting its second runway approach during heavy fog, and its pilots were unable to see the gravel airstrip, as reported by authorities.