The five passengers, from Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam, were on an independent tour, not sold by the ship, the cruise line said in a statement.
USCG said an emergency radio beacon was activated near the Misty Fjords area eight miles northeast of Ketchikan at 11:20 a.m. Thursday. A Temsco helicopter reported sighting wreckage on a ridgeline in the search area.
Coast Guard helicopter locates wreckage
USCG, Alaska State Troopers, US Forest Service and Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad responded. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka located the wreckage at 2:37 p.m. and lowered two rescue swimmers who reported no survivors.
Ship recently resumed service
Nieuw Amsterdam — which just resumed service July 23 from Seattle — called at Ketchikan Thursday. Next of kin have been notified and counseling services were being made available to passengers and crew.
'The floatplane excursion was offered by an independent tour operator and not sold by Holland America Line,' the company statement said.
Nieuw Amsterdam is nearing the end of a cruise that departed Seattle on July 31. It is due to return as scheduled on Aug. 7.
Weather conditions
USCG reported weather conditions on scene were 8 mph winds, visibility of two miles and ceilings of 900 feet with a mist and light rain.
Ketchikan-based Southeast Aviation specializes in Misty Fjords flightseeing tours.
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