Passengers killed as seaplane collides mid-air in Alaska

Two seaplanes carrying cruise ship tourists have collided midair over southeastern Alaska, killing at least five and injuring 10, while one person is missing.

The accident occurred on Monday afternoon over waters about 40 kilometers northeast of Ketchikan town, said Petty Officer Jon-Paul Rios, a coastguard spokesperson.

The seaplanes collided under unknown circumstances, Allen Kenitzer, a spokesman of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in an email to the Associated Press news agency.

Weather conditions in the area on Monday included high overcast skies.

Seaplanes have pontoons mounted under the fuselage, so they can land on water.

Local emergency responders worked with state and federal agencies and good Samaritan vessels to help rescue victims.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington DC are expected to arrive in Ketchikan later on Tuesday.

Both planes were from the Royal Princess cruise ship which was en route from the Canadian city of Vancouver to the Alaskan city of Anchorage.

The incident occurred in the vicinity of a popular tourist lodge that runs excursions to the nearby Misty Fjords National Monument.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their lives and the families of those impacted by today's accident. Princess Cruises is extending its full support to traveling companions of the guests involved," Princess Cruises said in a statement.

One of the aircraft involved was a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver with five people on board and the other was a de Havilland Otter DHC-3 carrying 11 people, Kenitzer said, citing information from local authorities.

The Ketchikan-based operator of the larger plane, Taquan Air, said its pilot and nine passengers were rescued and they were receiving medical attention, but one passenger's fate remained unknown.

That group was returning from a sightseeing tour of Misty Fjords when the crash occurred, Taquan said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Taquan Air, the operator of the Otter said the company had suspended operations while federal authorities investigate the deadly crash.

It is not the first time a major plane crash has occurred near Ketchikan, a popular tourist destination.

In June 2015, a pilot and eight passengers had died when a de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, operated by Promech Air Inc, crashed into mountainous terrain about 39km from Ketchikan.

The NTSB later determined that pilot error and lack of a formal safety programme were behind the crash.