Two people confirmed to be on board Douglas DC-4 plane that crashed into river near Fairbanks, Alaska
An aeroplane has crashed into a river near Fairbanks, Alaska, according to state troopers.
The plane, a Douglas DC-4, was carrying two people when it crashed into the Tanana River near to the Fairbanks International Airport on Tuesday morning at around 10am local time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told The Inndependent.
The conditions of the pair were not made immediately clear.
The website www.airlines.net said standard passenger seating for a DC-4 was 44 during its heyday, but most have now been converted to freighters.
Alaska State Troopers said in a statement that people should avoid the area of the crash though a spokesperson, did not provide further information. Rescue crews are responding to the scene.
The plane model was first commissioned during World War II, with numerous aircraft used during the Berlin Airlift of 1948 to 1949. There are very few left in service, though Alaska Air Fuel reportedly operates two of the aircraft out of Palmer, Alaska.
A spokesperson for Alaska Air Fuel confirmed to The Independent that the company operated the aircraft, but said they were currently unaware of a crash.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will be the lead agency and provide any updates.
The Independent has reached out to the NTSB for more information.
