Taquan Air, an established operator of flightseeing
excursions in Alaska, has voluntarily suspended service after a second fatal
crash.
A Taquan Air Otter plane cartwheeled on landing May 20 in
Metlakatla Harbor, killing a passenger and the pilot. That followed the fatal
midair collision between a Taquan plane and another plane on May 13.
Ketchikan-based Taquan has about 15 small planes and has
been in business since 1977. The Federal Aviation Administration said Taquan's
halt of flightseeing and commuter flights is in place until further notice.
The May 13 crash that left six dead involved two planes
carrying excursion passengers from the Royal Princess cruise ship. The May 20
crash was a commuter flight from Ketchikan.