A sightseeing plane taking holidaymakers on an excursion from a cruise ship has crashed into a cliff in the Alaskan wilderness killing all nine people on board.
Stormy weather has frustrated efforts to recover the bodies from the wreckage of the single-engined aircraft, which came down in mountainous terrain about 20 miles northeast of the town of Ketchikan.
The de Havilland DHC-3 Otter boatplane, which had been reported overdue, was found on a rock face about 800ft (240m) above Ella Lake on Thursday.
It was spotted by a helicopter pilot after an emergency locator transmitter activated in the Misty Fjords National Monument, which is Alaska's second largest wilderness region covering more than two million acres.
There was no immediate indication of what caused the plane to crash and the National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team to investigate.
Clint Johnson, head of the agency's Alaska office, said: "We have nine fatalities.
"The initial rescue crew that went in had a very tough time because of the terrain.
"It's a very steep, mountainous area, and weather conditions caused them to stand down."
Promech Air, an airline based in Ketchikan, operated the shore excursion sold through the cruise ship operator Holland America Line.
The eight passengers had been guests aboard the Westerdam liner, which was on a seven-day cruise that left Seattle on Saturday.
In a statement, the cruise company said: "We are incredibly distressed by this situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with those on board the plane and their families.
"Holland America Line is extending its full support to travelling companions of the guests involved."
Marcus Sessoms, president of Promech Air, said: "There is nothing I can say that can alleviate the pain and overwhelming sense of loss that we, and the loved ones of those affected, are feeling."
The airline's website advertises tours of the Misty Fjord National Monument, which it bills as: "Towering granite cliffs, 1,000-foot waterfalls, lush and remote valleys and serene crystalline lakes make up this incredible landscape."
