Alaska plane crash kills four, ex-mayor among victims

Four men were killed when a Piper PA-24 crashed into shallow waters near Seldovia, Alaska. The pilot was Eric Middlebrook, 68, of Anchorage, a former Bethel mayor with decades of flying to remote villages; the passengers were Ronald Schmidt, 65; Lance Schmidt, 20; and Daniel Simons, 82, all from California. The aircraft had departed Anchorage bound for Seldovia when it went down, coming to rest about 15 feet deep in the Seldovia Slough; responders faced tides before recovering the victims. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are reviewing weather, flight telemetry, and mechanical logs to determine the cause. Alaska U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan said he was awaiting a briefing from the NTSB and FAA as they probe the incident and continue to prioritize aviation safety in the state. The crash has drawn attention to Alaska’s challenging flying conditions and remote-airport operations, with officials continuing the inquiry.