Alaska’s Southeast Aviation suspends ops after crash

Three days after the crash of its DHC-2 Beaver in the Alaskan mountains on August 5, 2021, Southeast Aviation (Ketchikan Int’l) has suspended all operations “for the foreseeable future”. N1249K (msn 1549) impacted a densely forested mountain slope around 12 miles (19.5 kilometres) north of Ketchikan. The pilot and five passengers were killed.

“We are thinking of and grieving with the families of the five passengers and our dear friend and pilot lost in Thursday’s tragic flight incident. We are cooperating with the first responders and agencies involved, including the U.S. Coast Guard, National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and Alaska State Troopers. All of us share in the anguish of this tragic incident, and our prayers go out to all affected,” the airline said.

Based out of Ketchikan Harbor SPB in southern Alaska, Southeast Aviation operates two more DHC-2 amphibians. Prior to the suspension of operations, the carrier focused on sightseeing and charter flights.