Four people have died after a small plane crashed into shallow water in Alaska.
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The incident occurred near Seldovia on Wednesday, August 26. Authorities have not yet released the identities of those who died as they work to notify their next of kin.
Officials have confirmed that all four victims were adults.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sent an investigator to the crash site on Thursday, August 27, as authorities work to determine what caused the tragedy.
Small Plane Crash in Alaska Kills Four Adults
Alaska State Troopers received reports of a plane crash at around 1:18 p.m. local time in the remote Seldovia Slough area.
Authorities identified the aircraft as a Piper PA-24. It had taken off from Merrill Field Airport in Anchorage, around 136 miles northeast of Seldovia, and was due to land at Seldovia Airport.
When authorities arrived at the crash site, they found the aircraft submerged in shallow water and initially could not access it.
Troopers and emergency crews had to wait for the tide to recede before reaching the wreckage.
At around 6:30 p.m., several hours after the initial reports, crews were finally able to access the aircraft. They recovered the bodies of four adults from inside.
Authorities sent the victims' bodies to the medical examiner's office for autopsies. Officials will withhold their names until they have notified their next of kin.
NTSB Launches Investigation Into Fatal Alaska Crash
The NTSB has launched an investigation to determine what caused the fatal crash and what happened in the moments leading up to it.
An investigator reportedly arrived at the scene the following day to examine the aircraft and document the crash site.
The NTSB also plans to move the aircraft to a secure facility for further examination.
Investigators will collect evidence including air traffic control communications, weather reports, flight tracking data and witness statements as they work to establish what happened.
"These tragedies are heartbreaking and unacceptable, which is why aviation safety and infrastructure in Alaska continue to be a top focus of mine," Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan said in a statement.
The NTSB has urged anyone who witnessed the crash or captured relevant surveillance footage to come forward, as the information could prove pivotal to the investigation.
