Small plane crashes in water next to remote Alaska coastal town

A small plane carrying four people crashed into shallow waters near a remote coastal town in Alaska on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of all occupants, according to officials. The Piper PA-24 aircraft, en route to the Seldovia airport from Anchorage, crashed and submerged in approximately 15 feet of water in the Seldovia Slough, stated Clint Johnson, the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska region chief.

Troopers had to wait for the tide to recede to reach the wreckage. The bodies of the four adults were retrieved and are being sent to the medical examiner's office; their identities will not be released until next of kin are notified, as per the Department of Public Safety. The cause of the crash remains unclear. U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska expressed his condolences, stating that aviation safety and infrastructure in Alaska are a top priority.

Tragically, a similar plane accident occurred just days before this incident at a remote military site in western Alaska, claiming the lives 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.