Alaska Airlines Flight 3296, operated by Peninsula Airways, ran off the runway while landing at Alaska’s Unalaska/Dutch Harbor Airport yesterday evening. Unalaska Island is part of the Aleutian Island chain to the west of the Alaskan mainland.
The twin-engine aircraft had departed from Anchorage, Alaska, and after overshooting the runway, stopped just short of plunging into the waters of the bay.
Two aboard were critically injured. Ten others were treated for injuries. The Alaska Cordova High School high school swim team was on board the flight, and the rest of that team was okay.
The Saab 2000 turboprop plane had 39 passengers on board and 3 crew members.
Interim Police Chief John Lucking said there were no casualties.
According to a witness – Jim Paulin, freelance photographer – it looked like high winds forced the aircraft beyond its landing area.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Burnias
