5 killed in U.S. floatplane collision

SAN FRANCISCO, May 13 (Xinhua): Five people from a cruise ship line were killed and one was missing Monday after two floatplanes collided in mid-air near Ketchikan, southeast Alaska, a local TV outlet reported.

The victims were among a group of 16 people from two cruise ships from Princess Cruises line, who were aboard two seaplanes for flight-seeing in Alaska, the cruise ship company confirmed.

Princess Cruises said that nine of its guests on a small float plane operated by Taquan Air, who were flying on a shore excursion sold through Princess Cruises, were rescued with injuries, and the condition of one guest remained unknown.

It added that the five fatalities included four guests from Royal Princess cruise and the pilot.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said in a tweet Monday that it is investigating the accident involving the two aircraft.