A weekend air taxi flight in rural Alaska ended tragically with two fatalities and three serious injuries after the small plane crashed shortly after takeoff. The U.S. Coast Guard reported that the Vertigo Air Taxi aircraft, carrying five individuals, went down approximately three miles north of Old Harbor on Kodiak Island's southeast coast on Sunday afternoon. The intended destination of the flight was Kodiak city, roughly 70 miles northeast of the crash site.
According to Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board's Alaska region, the plane crashed in a hilly area. The NTSB is actively investigating the incident, with a representative arriving in Kodiak on Monday to begin the on-site investigation. The identities of the passengers and crew have not yet been publicly released. Johnson confirmed the severity of the injuries, stating two individuals sustained serious injuries while a third person remains in critical condition.
Vertigo Air Taxi's website describes the company as providing air taxi services throughout Alaska, as well as wilderness adventure tours in the Kodiak area. Attempts to reach Vertigo Air Taxi for comment were made via email.
