1 / 2Alaska Plane CrashA commuter airplane has crashed near the airport in a small Alaska community on the Bering Sea, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Unalaska, Alaska. Freelance photographer Jim Paulin says the crash at the Unalaska airport occurred Thursday after 5 p.m. Paulin says the Peninsula Airways flight from Anchorage to Dutch Harbor landed about 500 feet beyond the airport near the water.
He said local authorities reported three crew members on board in addition to 38 passengers, but the airline said in a statement that 39 passengers were on board. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of our passengers and crew, and the family members of everyone with loved ones on this flight," said PenAir CEO Dave Pflieger.
The swim team was from the Alaska community of Cordova, said Erin Reinders, Unalaska's city manager, who is also her community's swim coach and was at the airport waiting to greet the team from Cordova.