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Deli meat deaths, passengers suspect ‘foul play’ after woman falls off carnival cruise ship.

At around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, passengers on the Carnival Miracle cruise ship were awakened by an alert that  someone had fallen overboard .

Passengers were in the midst of a three-day California voyage from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal to Ensenada.

“Someone has lost their life, whether it was done by accident or by foul play I don’t know,” said Daniel Miranda, a Northern California firefighter paramedic on board the ship, according to  CBS Los Angeles .

“There’s some high suspicion of foul play.”

The outlet states that many passengers are also concerned the incident occurred from foul play, after the woman fell from the fifth-floor balcony of her stateroom.

There are 12 decks on the Carnival Miracle cruise ship.

“A lot of people are concerned because that’s somebody’s life, and that’s a high likelihood that this person will not be found alive,” Miranda added.

After over 31 hours of searching, the Coast Guard halted its efforts on Sunday.

“They did their best efforts to get crews out on little boats and rescue and start a search,” said Miranda.

Following the incident on Saturday morning, Carnival issued a statement.

“We advised Carnival Miracle guests this morning of an overboard incident involving one of our guests from the balcony of her stateroom,” they wrote.

“Our thoughts are with the guest and her family, and our care team is providing support.”

With a guest capacity of 2,100 people, Miranda estimated around 1,100 were on board the cruise ship at the time of the incident.

The United States Coast Guard has been assisted in the search by the Mexican navy.

6 dead after floatplane crashes in southeast Alaska, Coast Guard says

A sightseeing plane crashed Thursday in southeast Alaska, killing all six people on board, including the plane's pilot, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The five passengers were Holland America Line cruise passengers, the cruise line said on Twitter .

"An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka located the wreckage at 2:37 p.m. and lowered two rescue swimmers who reported no survivors," the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The Coast Guard along with Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Alaska State Troopers, U.S. Forest Service and the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad responded to the area of the crash, according to a statement from the Alaska Department of Public Safety , provided by public information officer Austin McDaniel. The Coast Guard discovered the crash site in "a steep mountainous area," the statement continued.

The identities of those killed in the crash were not immediately released. 

The floatplane, an aircraft that can be supported by floats on water, left from Misty Fjords National Monument and "crashed near Ketchikan, Alaska, around 11:19 a.m. local time today," Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Donnell Evans told USA TODAY in a statement.

The plane left from Misty Fjords and was on its way to Ketchikan.

The five passengers on the flight were from the Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, the company said in a statement. Holland America expressed its condolences on Twitter late Thursday.

"We can confirm that a float plane carrying five guests from Nieuw Amsterdam was involved in an accident in Ketchikan, and there are no survivors," Holland America said. "It was an independent tour not sold by Holland America Line. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims."

The ship stopped in Ketchikan on Thursday and delayed its afternoon departure after the plane crash. The company said it was making counseling services available to guests and crew.

The Nieuw Amsterdam was wrapping up a seven-day cruise in Alaska which departed from Seattle on Saturday. Ketchikan is a popular cruise ship destination, and passengers can take various sightseeing excursions while in port. Popular among them are trips to Misty Fjords National Monument, where visitors can see glacier valleys, snowcapped peaks and numerous lakes in the wilderness area.

The Coast Guard was first on the scene, responding Thursday morning to an emergency alert from a sightseeing plane in the area, Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Kip Wadlow told the Associated Press. 

This isn't the first aviation incident that has occurred in the area.

In 2019, two planes  collided midair, killing six of the 16 people on board the two planes. Those planes were also carrying cruise ship passengers.

The plane involved Thursday, a de Havilland Beaver, was owned by Southeast Aviation LLC, Wadlow said.

"Our hearts are shattered at the loss of six people today," Southeast Aviation LLC said in a statement shared by spokesperson Bri Kelly. "We are thinking of and grieving with the families of the five passengers and our dear friend and pilot aboard the aircraft. We are cooperating with the first responders and agencies involved, including the U.S. Coast Guard, National Transportation Safety Board and Alaska State Troopers. All of us share in the anguish of this tragic incident, and our prayers go out to all affected."

The company on its website says it provides sightseeing tours to Misty Fjords National Monument and bear-viewing sites, along with air charters to other communities in southeast Alaska.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

Contributing: The Associated Press

5 passengers from Holland America cruise out of Seattle killed in Alaska sightseeing plane crash

Cruise ship passengers die in sightseeing plane crash in alaska.

Five of the six victims were passengers on the Holland America cruise, which had left Seattle last week.

SEATTLE - A sightseeing plane crashed Thursday in southeast Alaska, killing all six people on board, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The plane’s emergency alert beacon was activated around 11:20 a.m. when the plane crashed in the area of Misty Fjords National Monument, near Ketchikan, the Coast Guard and Federal Aviation Administration said. 

A helicopter company reported seeing wreckage on a ridgeline in the search area, and Coast Guard crew members found the wreckage around 2:40 p.m. A Coast Guard helicopter lowered two rescue swimmers to the site, and they reported no survivors, the agency said.

The identities of those killed in the crash were not immediately released.

The five passengers on the flight were from the Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam , the company said in a statement. The ship stopped in Ketchikan on Thursday and had left from Seattle on July 31.

The cruise delayed its afternoon departure after the plane crash. The company said it was making counseling services available to guests and crew.

"The float plane excursion was offered by an independent tour operator and not sold by Holland America Line," the statement said.

RELATED: Holland America cruise ship takes off from Seattle this week

Ketchikan is a popular stop for cruise ships visiting Alaska, and cruise ship passengers can take various sightseeing excursions while in port.

Popular among them are small plane flights to Misty Fjords National Monument, where visitors can see glacier valleys, snow-capped peaks and lakes in the wilderness area.

In 2019, two sightseeing planes collided in midair, killing six of the 16 people on board the two planes.

The plane involved Thursday, a de Havilland Beaver, was owned by Southeast Aviation LLC, Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Kip Wadlow said. A message left at the sightseeing company in Ketchikan was not immediately returned to The Associated Press.

The company on its website says it provides sightseeing tours to Misty Fjords National Monument and bear-viewing sites, along with air charters to other communities in southeast Alaska.

The Coast Guard was told by the plane’s operator that five passengers and a pilot were on board, Wadlow said.

Wadlow did not have details on when the plane took off. Weather conditions were a cloud ceiling of 900 feet with mist and light rain. Visibility was 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) and winds were 8 mph the Coast Guard said.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

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Coast Guard calls off search for overboard passenger on Mexico cruise

A woman fell from her stateroom balcony aboard the Carnival Miracle, Carnival Cruise Line said

The Coast Guard has called off the search for a woman who fell overboard from a Carnival Cruise ship near the coast of Mexico.

“After 31+ hours of searching, #USCG assets are standing down pending additional information,” the Coast Guard tweeted Monday afternoon.

FINAL UPDATE: After 31+ hours of searching, #USCG assets are standing down pending additional information. USCG conducted first light searches this morning off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico with negative results. USCG assets are transiting back to U.S. waters. — USCG Southern California (@USCGSoCal) December 12, 2021

Carnival said in a statement that it informed guests Saturday on the Carnival Miracle that a passenger went overboard from the balcony of her stateroom. The ship returned to Long Beach, Calif., as scheduled on Sunday after a three-day cruise to Ensenada, Mexico, the company said.

The woman was in her mid-20s, the Associated Press reported, but was not identified.

“Our thoughts are with the guest and her family, and our Care Team is providing support,” Carnival said in a statement.

Cruise ship with at least 17 coronavirus cases aboard docks in New Orleans

A Carnival Miracle passenger told a California TV station that guests were woken up early Saturday morning by a message throughout the ship.

“About 3 a.m., we were awakened by a general announcement across the ship with a warning going, ‘Man overboard! Man overboard! Man overboard!’ ” Daniel Miranda told KABC.

The Coast Guard said Saturday afternoon that it was using helicopter crews and working with the Mexican navy to locate the woman.

The Carnival Miracle is a 963-foot ship that can carry more than 2,100 passengers. It sails from ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego.

From 2001 to 2019, 58 passengers and 14 crew died after falling overboard, according to the International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health. Cruise Junkie , which tracks overboard deaths, reported one death in 2020 while cruises were largely banned from sailing during the pandemic. The man died after falling overboard from a Royal Caribbean ship that was moored in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

More cruise news

Living at sea: Travelers on a 9-month world cruise are going viral on social media. For some travelers, not even nine months was enough time on a ship; they sold cars, moved out of their homes and prepared to set sail for three years . That plan fell apart, but a 3.5-year version is waiting in the wings.

Passengers beware: It’s not all buffets and dance contests. Crime data reported by cruise lines show that the number of sex crimes has increased compared to previous years. And though man-overboard cases are rare, they are usually deadly .

The more you know: If you’re cruise-curious, here are six tips from a newcomer. Remember that in most cases, extra fees and add-ons will increase the seemingly cheap price of a sailing. And if you happen to get sick , know what to expect on board.

Morning Rundown: Trump team downplays Arlington cemetery incident, NASA rover embarks on Mars road trip, and the YouTube star dominating ultimate frisbee

6 dead after sightseeing plane in Alaska crashes

Six people died after a sightseeing floatplane carrying cruise ship passengers crashed in southeast Alaska on Thursday, authorities said.

Everyone on board the de Havilland Beaver was killed in the crash in the Misty Fjords area, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

An emergency beacon was activated around 11:20 a.m., and a search helicopter found the wreckage on a ridgeline at 2:37 p.m.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims and with our guests and team members who are affected by this tragedy," cruise line Holland America said in a statement.

The plane was owned by Southeast Aviation, a private company, and the excursion was not sold by Holland America cruise line, the cruise company said.

The passengers were from the Nieuw Amsterdam, which is near the end of a seven-day cruise that left Seattle on Saturday, the company said.

The deceased were not immediately identified.

The Alaska State Troopers said in a dispatch that the crash scene was in a "steep mountainous area" and that poor visibility and deteriorating weather had at times hampered aerial search efforts. Efforts were being coordinated to recover the bodies, it said.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team to investigate the crash.

Southeast Aviation did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Its website says it is based in Ketchikan and among the tours it offers is to the Misty Fjords.

Ketchikan and the Misty Fjords National Monument are in the far southeastern part of Alaska on the panhandle.

The Covid-19 pandemic largely shut down cruise operations, but in May Holland America announced it would resume cruises to Alaska.

It did so thanks in part to a federal law signed in May that temporarily allows foreign-flagged cruise ships to sail directly to the state rather than being required to stop in Canada.

After the law passed, Norwegian Cruise Line also announced plans to resume trips out of Seattle in August.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

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Families of 4 killed in Alaska floatplane crash sue Holland America, alleging cruise company pressures excursion operators

The families of four tourists killed in an Alaskan floatplane crash last year have sued Holland America Line, alleging the Seattle-based cruise company pressures outside excursion operators to take unnecessary risks to meet cruise schedules and doesn’t warn passengers of excursion dangers.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, alleges Holland America knew of the dangers because passengers on previous trips had died in similar crashes. Rather than warning its passengers that such trips come with risks, the lawsuit accuses Holland America of merely requiring floatplane excursion operators — most of which are independent businesses — to add the cruise line company to their insurance policies.

“Under maritime law, the Holland Defendants had a duty to warn passengers of these risks,” the lawsuit says. “Thus, the Holland Defendants response … was to protect itself from liability rather than protect its cruise passengers — by mitigating associated risks or warning its passengers of the risks involved in floatplane excursions.”

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the families of Andrea McArthur, 55, and her 20-year-old daughter, Rachel McArthur, both of Woodstock, Georgia; Jacquelyn Komplin, 60, of Napa, California; and Janet Kroll, 77, of Mount Prospect, Illinois.

The four were among six people killed when a floatplane owned by Southeast Aviation of Ketchikan, Alaska, slammed into a mountainside while touring Misty Fjords National Monument in bad weather Aug. 5, 2021.

All of the flight’s passengers had been aboard Holland America’s ship Nieuw Amsterdam, which was docked in Ketchikan as part of a seven-day “Alaska Explorer” cruise, according to the lawsuit.

Also killed were pilot Rolf Lanzendorfer, 64, of Cle Elum, Kittitas County, who’s named as a defendant, and Mark Henderson, 69, of Napa, whose family is not a party to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges Lanzendorfer had only recently returned to work at Southeast Aviation after having been involved in another floatplane crash a month earlier. According to news reports, National Transportation and Safety Board regional chief Clint Johnson said Lanzendorfer was flying alone in a Southeast floatplane when he hit a buoy shortly after takeoff and flipped the plane.

The lawsuit claims that a Federal Aviation Administration investigation found Lanzendorfer acted “carelessly” when he failed to properly taxi and clear his takeoff in the July 9, 2021, crash.

The fatal Aug. 5, 2021, crash came as Lanzendorfer was trying to return to Ketchikan to get his passengers to the Holland America ship before it departed at 4 p.m. According to weather reports cited in the lawsuit, the cloud ceiling was as low as 600 feet that day.

The lawsuit notes that Misty Fjords National Monument “takes its name for the near constant precipitation … which causes mist and low clouds that often cling to sheer cliffs rising from the fjords and obscure the mountaintops.”

The lawsuit alleges Lanzendorfer flew the floatplane “intentionally, carelessly, recklessly and with conscious disregard for the safety of the paying passengers … into unsafe weather conditions, which increased the probability that serious harm and fatalities would result.”

The lawsuit notes that the tourists who were killed purchased their excursions through a private travel agent or operator. However, the lawsuit claims Holland America promoted those excursions in its literature and on its website, stating that “only by air can you fully appreciate the dramatic beauty of land slowly crafted by nature over tens of thousands of years.”

“They use these exciting excursions to sell cruises,” said Atlanta attorney Ranse Partin, the lead plaintiff attorney.

James Rogers, a Seattle lawyer for the plaintiffs, said Holland America failed to warn its passengers “of the dangers posed by these flights, which they well know.”

The lawsuit alleges that Holland America knows its schedules “heavily influence the tour schedules of shore excursion operators.” And while Holland America doesn’t provide the excursions, the cruise line advertises and markets them to “promote the overall cruise experience,” the lawsuit says, noting that both the cruise line and third-party operators benefit from high numbers of cruise passengers booking excursions.

The lawsuit also states that the NTSB has expressed concerns about this relationship and the pressures it puts on excursion providers. The agency reported that seaplane and floatplane excursions in Alaska were involved in 207 crashes involving 80 fatalities between January 2008 and June 2019.

“The mountainous terrain coupled with hazardous weather conditions, high aviation traffic and tight sightseeing floatplane tour schedules due to a desire for operators and cruise lines to maximize the number of participating passengers for increased profits, created an unreasonably dangerous excursion,” the lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit references two other fatal floatplane crashes involving cruise passengers, including a June 2015 crash that killed eight passengers and the pilot on a similar excursion to view Misty Fjords National Monument. The NTSB in its final report “attributed that crash to scheduling pressures that force some seaplane operators to fly in marginal weather conditions.”

The agency asked the Cruise Lines International Association in a subsequent letter to investigate the dynamics of the relationship between cruise lines and excursion operators to try to mitigate some of those risks, the lawsuit claims.

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A Holland America spokesperson, who declined to be named, said in a statement: “We were incredibly saddened by this tragedy and our hearts go out to the families of those who died.”

“This floatplane excursion was independently operated and purchased separately by the impacted guests and not sold through or advertised by Holland America Line,” the statement said. “Safety is of utmost importance to us, and our contracts with tour operators emphasize it as a top priority.”

An individual who identified himself as Jim Kosmos, answering a Monday phone call to the offices of Southeast Aviation, declined to provide his position with the company and said he had no comment on the lawsuit.

Records show Kosmos is the company’s owner.

The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.

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Plane Crash in Alaska Kills 6 People

Five of the six people on the small aircraft had been traveling on a Holland America Line cruise, the company said in a statement.

By Azi Paybarah

Six people, including five passengers who had been on a cruise ship, were killed on Thursday morning when a small plane they were in crashed in Alaska, the authorities said.

A helicopter crew from the U.S. Coast Guard located the wreckage near Ketchikan shortly after 2:30 p.m. and lowered two rescue swimmers to the scene, who reported no survivors, according to the statement.

One pilot and five passengers were on the aircraft, a single-engine de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, according to statements from the Coast Guard and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The aircraft had departed from Misty Fjords for Ketchikan, an area about 300 miles south of Juneau. The network of waterways and expansive views of natural wilderness have helped make it a popular destination for tourists.

Around 11:19 a.m. local time, something went wrong, and the plane crashed about eight miles northeast of Ketchikan, according to the Coast Guard and the F.A.A. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

Officials did not identify the people killed.

The five passengers on the plane had been traveling on a Holland America Line cruise ship called the Nieuw Amsterdam, according to a statement from the company.

“We can confirm that a float plane carrying five guests from Nieuw Amsterdam was involved in an accident in Ketchikan, and there are no survivors,” the company said. “It was an independent tour not sold by Holland America Line. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims.”

A telephone message left for Holland America Line was not immediately returned on Thursday evening. The plane was operated by Southeast Aviation, according to a representative for Holland America Line, The Anchorage Daily News reported .

Southeast Aviation said on Friday that it was cooperating with emergency workers, the Coast Guard, the National Transportation Safety Board and Alaska State Troopers.

“We are thinking of and grieving with the families of the five passengers and our dear friend and pilot aboard the aircraft,” the company said in a statement. “All of us share in the anguish of this tragic incident, and our prayers go out to all affected.”

Azi Paybarah is a reporter covering breaking news, based in New York. Before joining The Times in 2018 he covered politics for WNYC and The New York Observer. He helped launch the website that later became Politico New York and co-founded the FAQ NYC podcast. He is a lifelong New Yorker and graduate of the University at Albany. More about Azi Paybarah

Cruise ship still docked in San Francisco after hitting pier

Ruby Princess' estimated departure is now Sunday, according to officials.

The Ruby Princess cruise ship that startled sleeping San Francisco residents Thursday morning when it collided with a pier while docking won't likely depart until Sunday, officials said.

"Repairs are underway and our technical experts estimate that repairs are likely to take upwards of 24 hours," said Princess Cruises on Friday, giving an estimated departure time of Sunday at 4 p.m. PT.

The ship was returning from a 10-day cruise to Alaska, which had 3,328 guests and 1,159 crew members on board, none of whom were injured and all safely deboarded, according to Princess Cruises.

The damage done to the vessel did not slow down new passengers from boarding at 4 p.m. PT, set to embark on the next 10-day cruise. As of Friday afternoon, 4 p.m. locally, the ship was still docked, according to a live shot from ABC affiliate KGO.

Following an inspection from the U.S. Coast Guard, Ruby Princess will be cleared to sail once all damage from Thursday has been fully repaired, according to the cruise line.

According to the cruise line, there are over 3,000 guests currently boarded, who are being given the option to cancel and receive "a 100% refund of their cruise fare, post-cruise hotel packages and transfers booked through Princess, prepaid shore excursions and other prepaid items and taxes, fees and port expenses."

While also being given a 50% voucher for a future cruise, guests are being given the option to decide by Sunday at 11 a.m. PT, and in the meantime, they are free to come and go from the cruise ship to explore San Francisco.

MORE: 1 dead, 2 missing after barge crashes into boat on Ohio River

Guests who do decide to stay aboard and embark on a now 7-day journey to Alaska, will receive a partial refund of 75%.

The collision was so loud, residents told KGO that they could hear the impact and they were awoken by the sounds of the crew scrambling.

MORE: 2 firefighters die while battling blaze aboard ship in New Jersey

Witnesses said the dock took the brunt of the damage from the crash.

The Coast Guard is investigating the incident, according to police. A spokesperson for the San Francisco Bar Pilots group told ABC News in a statement that it is cooperating with the investigation.

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Enormous MSC Cruise Ship Crashes Into Crowded Venice Port, Injuring at Least Five

By Caleb Jacobs

Posted on Jun 3, 2019 11:35 AM EDT

A commercial cruise ship suffered a catastrophic engine failure off the coast of Venice, Italy on Sunday, leaving it uncontrollable as it headed toward a nearby dock. With no effective way of steering the vessel, it resultantly crashed into the harbor—a hotspot for tourists—injuring five people, according to the Associated Press.

The news has made headlines worldwide with videos of the incident also being posted online, showing the situation from a firsthand perspective:

Operated by MSC, the Opera cruise ship was built to hold more than 2,675 passengers and, in this instance, it was carrying travelers back to Venice after visiting Kotor, Montenegro as well as the Greek cities of Mykonos, Santorini, and Corfu. Two nearby tugboats worked to guide the ship away from the dock after the captain immediately reported the engine failure but failed.

As can be heard in the videos, those aboard the ship and on shore were left wondering aloud what might come of the shipwreck. 

While there are obvious and immediate effects that come with a crash of this magnitude, Italian activists are using the episode to make a political point. Recently, there’s been a swing of protest regarding Venice’s acceptance of cruise ships that, due to their size , block narrow waterways and obstruct tourist views. This was not lost on Twitter after Sunday’s happenings as Italy’s environment minister Sergio Costa posted:

“What happened in the port of Venice is confirmation of what we have been saying for some time. Cruise ships must not sail down the Giudecca. We have been working on moving them for months now … and are nearing a solution.”

Quello che è successo nel porto di #Venezia è la conferma di quello che diciamo da tempo: le #GrandiNavi non devono passare dalla Giudecca. Per questo da mesi insieme ai ministri @DaniloToninelli e @BonisoliAlberto stiamo lavorando per spostarle e siamo vicini alla soluzione — Sergio Costa (@SergioCosta_Gen) June 2, 2019

A politician with the Italian Left party, Nicola Fratoianni, even went as far as to call cruise ships “steel monsters” which “risk carnage” in the seaside town.

Curioso quel Paese che blocca navi che salvano vite e permette a grandi navi di attraversare #Venezia … Situazione intollerabile. Interrogazione in Parlamento, e subito blocco passaggio navi da crociera dal canale della Giudecca #NoGrandiNaviVenezia https://t.co/eff5oAC3hj — nicola fratoianni (@NFratoianni) June 2, 2019

An MSC spokesperson explained to NPR   that the cruise ship is now being moored at the Marittima terminal and has begun passenger operations.

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Coast Guard Confirms 6 People Died In The Crash Of A Sightseeing Plane In Alaska

The Associated Press

JUNEAU, Alaska — A sightseeing plane crashed Thursday in southeast Alaska, killing all six people on board, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The plane's emergency alert beacon was activated around 11:20 a.m. when the plane crashed in the area of Misty Fjords National Monument, near Ketchikan, the Coast Guard and Federal Aviation Administration said. A helicopter company reported seeing wreckage on a ridgeline in the search area, and Coast Guard crew members found the wreckage around 2:40 p.m. A Coast Guard helicopter lowered two rescue swimmers to the site, and they reported no survivors, the agency said. The identities of those killed in the crash were not immediately released. The five passengers on the flight were from the Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, the company said in a statement. The ship stopped in Ketchikan on Thursday and delayed its afternoon departure after the plane crash. The company said it was making counseling services available to guests and crew. "The float plane excursion was offered by an independent tour operator and not sold by Holland America Line," the statement said. Ketchikan is a popular stop for cruise ships visiting Alaska, and cruise ship passengers can take various sightseeing excursions while in port. Popular among them are small plane flights to Misty Fjords National Monument, where visitors can see glacier valleys, snow-capped peaks and lakes in the wilderness area. In 2019, two sightseeing planes collided in midair, killing six of the 16 people on board the two planes. The plane involved Thursday, a de Havilland Beaver, was owned by Southeast Aviation LLC, Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Kip Wadlow said. A message left at the sightseeing company in Ketchikan was not immediately returned to The Associated Press. The company on its website says it provides sightseeing tours to Misty Fjords National Monument and bear-viewing sites, along with air charters to other communities in southeast Alaska. The Coast Guard was told by the plane's operator that five passengers and a pilot were on board, Wadlow said. Wadlow did not have details on when the plane took off. Weather conditions were a cloud ceiling of 900 feet with mist and light rain. Visibility was 2 miles and winds were 8 mph the Coast Guard said. The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a crew to investigate the crash. The team is expected to arrive in Alaska on Friday. The FAA is also investigating.

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Mongabay Series: Hewing The Regulatory Tree

[Commentary] A cruise on the Narmada river: Is it legal, just or justified?

• The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department’s cruise project on the Narmada river faces strong opposition due to potential ecological disruption and impacts on local fishing communities.
• Environmentalists and locals have raised significant concerns, resulting in legal action that halted the project; critics emphasize the lack of thorough environmental and social impact assessments.
• Despite court orders to stop the project and associated construction, the work is continued. Hence, it raises a concern on the integrity of these authorities towards legal mechanisms in protecting rivers and natural environment of the country.

The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department proposed to start cruise ship services for tourists on the Narmada River, in early 2022. The cruise ships, yet to become operational, will go from Badwani in Madhya Pradesh to the Statue of Unity in Kevadiya, Gujarat, covering a distance of approximately 135 km. Each ship will carry 70 passengers in luxury and 56 passengers in the budget cruise vessels. These cruises will exclusively cater to tourists, providing facilities like bars, swimming pool, water sports and other leisure activities. Infrastructure for this project includes the construction of floating jetties and additional amenities to support tourists. Two additional sites, Hanfeshwar and Silarja, have been identified as stoppage points along the route. ​ This initiative is part of the government’s goal to develop luxury tourism in the region, with a 15-30% subsidy provided to attract investment in this sector. Periodically, the project was widely advertised in local newspapers and media, boasting about its economic benefits through potential tourism attraction and “foreign dollars” coming to the state.

However, this project seemed to have violated significant environmental protection laws and ignored key social concerns related to the pollution of drinking water sources, impacts on fisheries and fisher workers, irrigation for farmers and the communities’ rights on water sources. The intention of attaining such benefits to ‘economy’ is a worrying trend of disregarding ecological balance and community well-being in pursuit of profiteering tourism activities as business.

The Tourism Department of Madhya Pradesh enlisted WAPCOS Limited, a government-owned consultancy firm, to conduct a feasibility study for the project. Despite the voluminous reports generated by WAPCOS, the absence of any environmental or social impact assessments is something that should draw our attention. Such oversight points to evident neglect of ecological integrity to protect the Narmada river, and life and livelihoods of the communities that are dependent on it.

Environmental and social precedents of the project

Introducing cruise ships into the Narmada river, transformed into Sardar Sarovar, poses severe risks to its ecology. Increased water pollution from fuel and waste, disruption of aquatic life, and the potential for accidents, all threaten the river’s health. The local fisheries, a crucial source of livelihood for traditional fishing and a few thousand families are particularly vulnerable. The socio-economic costs, often marginalised in such projects, include pollution that renders water non-potable, and of air too, displacement due to loss to the traditional livelihoods, and their culture.

The impacts of such a project can be traced through the research done on houseboat projects in Kuttanad, Kerala. A study by Meebill Mathews, a lecturer at CMS College, Kottayan, shows problems with such projects leading to severe environmental damage and pollution that include dumping of plastics, discharge of human waste in water and diesel, oil and fuel spills in water causing polycyclic hydrocarbon pollution of water bodies. Economically, the cost of these damages accounts to much higher than the income generated from such tourism projects, as is concluded by expert researchers.

In the case of the cruise project on Narmada river, similar concerns were raised. If the plastic and other disposable waste and faecal matter produced by tourists is dumped in the river, it will be challenging to prevent it. The operation of cruises causes disturbance in the riverine ecosystem with noise pollution and sound waves absorbed down into deep water zones. These cruises may also release pollutants during operation and there could be leakages. Especially during monsoons and times of flood, any accident would cause huge oil spills and irreversible damage. Such an accident was also reported recently when parts of a cruise sank in the water in Badwani.

Shyama Jiji, a fisherwoman who lives in Pichhodi village in Badwani expressed the concerns of the fishing community, saying, “Such big cruises will break our nets in the river and destroy our fishing. It will pollute our drinking water, making it oily and greasy. This will impact our daily bread and butter. Big cruises are meant for oceans, not our holy river. People sitting in Delhi want cruises on our river, which will destroy our livelihood just for their amusement. Fishing is our right and our only designated work as fishers. Either give us land in lieu of that or leave our river.”

A legal fight and its verdict

Subhash Pandey, a well-known Bhopal-based environmentalist, filed a petition at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the project. The petition cited multiple legal frameworks, including the Wetland Management Rules, 2017; the Environmental Protection Act, 1986; the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The Bhoj wetland, a Ramsar site of international importance, was highlighted as particularly vulnerable to the proposed activities. In the proceedings of the case, the MP State Pollution Control Board presented a report, as asked by the NGT, showing no significant harm to the river. The report was not accepted as it had no technical backing. Further, the NGT invited a report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), given its expertise and made its final decision in favour of the appellant, ordering an immediate halt to all developments related to the cruise project planned in several water bodies including Bhoj lake in Bhopal. The verdict highlighted the need to prioritise environmental conservation over commercial interests, setting a significant precedent for similar cases across the country.

Undeterred by the NGT’s ruling, the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department appealed to the Supreme Court without any information to the original applicant, Pandey. However, through an order in March that reaffirmed the NGT’s stance, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal stating that NGT has rightly taken a step to protect various lakes in the state and protected lakes will attract more tourists.

This was a legal victory for the petitioner and local communities.

A controversial move by the Inland Waterways Authority

Despite these legal victories, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) recently issued a tender for designing, constructing, supplying installation, testing and commissioning of two jetties on the Narmada for the cruise project in Kevadiya. Further, IWAI signed an MoU with Gujarat and the MP governments for river cruise tourism in April. The initial construction work at several sites in MP has begun.

This is an irresponsible move and comprises a contempt of the court, blatantly disregarding the Supreme Court’s decision. Construction is being conducted on the land acquired for the reservoir of the Sardar Sarovar dam, which can’t be utilised for any other purposes. Therefore, it raises a serious fundamental question on IWAI’s integrity about governance, accountability, and the rule of law in environmental conservation.

The proposed cruise project on the Narmada is another example of the broader conflict between economic development and environmental protection. While tourism is seen as a source of economic growth, it must not come at the expense of our natural ecosystems with injustice to the communities that depend on them. Many times, these costs are externalised, and the damages are realised later. We must learn from past mistakes and prioritise long-term environmental protection over short-term economic gains.

The MP government and IWMI, along with all concerned authorities, must adhere to the legal mandates and prioritise conservation of the Narmada, local communities and natural resources in its basin. Only through a concerted effort can we ensure that our natural and cultural heritage is safeguarded for future generations.

Mathew, M. C. (2021). A Study on the Environmental Problems in Kuttanad: A Case Study on House Boat Tourism. International Journal of All Research Education & Scientific Methods, 9(9). Retrieved from https://www.ijaresm.com/a-study-on-the-environmental-problems-in-kuttanad-a-case-study-on-house-boat-tourism .

Dr. Subhash Pandey vs. Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department & ors (I. A. No. 68/2022) https://indiankanoon.org/doc/20219548/

SC dismissed MP tourism development corporation’s appeal: Diary No. 664 of 2024

Banner image: Narmada river flowing through the tribal villages in Barwani district, Madhya Pradesh. Image by Rachit Tiwari.

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BREAKING NEWS

Weather Authority Alert Day issued For Aug. 28th and 29th

Latest fatal landslide in alaska kills 1 and injures 3 in ketchikan, a popular cruise ship stop.

Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A landslide cut a path down a steep, thickly forested hillside and crashed into several homes in Ketchikan, killing one person and injuring three in the latest such disaster to strike mountainous southeast Alaska.

The landslide Sunday afternoon prompted a mandatory evacuation of 60 nearby homes in the city, a popular cruise ship stop along the famed Inside Passage in the Alaska panhandle. The slope remained unstable Monday, and authorities said that state and local geologists were arriving to assess the potential for further slides.

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Four homes were critically damaged, officials said, and homes next to the slide area were still being assessed. Several homes and businesses reported flooding.

Last November, six people — including a family of five — were killed when a landslide destroyed two homes in Wrangell , about 100 miles (161 kilometers) to the north. Torrential rains were blamed for landslides that killed two people in Haines in 2020 and three people in Sitka in 2015.

“In my 65 years in Ketchikan, I have never seen a slide of this magnitude," Ketchikan Mayor Dave Kiffer said in a statement. “With the slides we have seen across the region, there is clearly a region-wide issue that we need to try to understand with the support of our State geologist.”

He said the loss of life was “heartbreaking, and my heart goes out to those who lost their homes.”

Ketchikan officials on Monday identified the victim as Sean Griffin, a 17-year veteran of the city’s public works team who was clearing stormwater drains with a co-worker when they were caught in the landslide.

“It was his commitment to the community that caused him to respond to the call for assistance during his scheduled time off,” a statement from Ketchikan Gateway Borough Clerk Kacie Paxton said.

The landslide followed a weekend bout of rain amid an abnormally dry August, said Andrew Park, a meteorologist in Juneau with the National Weather Service. The weather service early Monday said Ketchikan had received about 2.6 inches (66 millimeters) of rain in about 36 hours, though rainfall totals at higher elevations nearby ranged from 5 to 9 inches (127 to 229 millimeters).

Landslides can be unpredictable, but this one occurred without certain other risk factors, such as high winds, Park said.

“There weren’t any of the big red flags we would normally see,” he said.

Leah Canfield was trying to nap when the slide struck. She saw a flash of light — she initially thought lightning, but it was likely an electrical conductor exploding, she said — and then her house started rumbling. She woke her spouse, and they grabbed their dogs and headed outside.

“When we started coming down the stairs, we’ve seen that, you know, there’s a lot of debris that was flying around outside our office window and realized, you know, that this is probably much bigger than just an earthquake,” she said.

They found that their neighbor’s home had plunged downhill, part of it coming to rest in their front yard. Another two-story house next door partially collapsed and slid into a different home, knocking it off its foundation. Trees, debris and a telephone pole landed on the roof of Canfield’s home, but Canfield said she believed the house could be salvaged.

After calling family members to let them know they were OK, they walked about 20 minutes to a hotel, because their pickup truck was buried by uprooted trees.

Ketchikan is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest, a temperate rainforest that encompasses much of southeast Alaska. Landslides strike often in the region, but garner little notice when they hit remote, unpopulated areas.

But as climate change intensifies storms and destabilizes soil, they are posing more risk to communities.

Because of the steep terrain, there's limited room for development in the region, and cities and roads are built at the base of slopes. Increasingly, landslides are occurring in inhabited areas of “old infrastructure that’s been built in harm’s way," said Aaron Jacobs, a meteorologist and senior service hydrologist with the National Weather Service’s Juneau office.

“It’s just becoming more and more common that they’re impacting people,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs planned to travel to Ketchikan on Monday to study the soil composition in the area and try to pinpoint why it occurred when the area had been in a period of drought before the weekend’s rainfall.

“We’re going to learn more about this and hopefully we can figure out what caused it and then we can move forward on it,” he said.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared an emergency for Ketchikan, while Kiffer and Ketchikan Gateway Borough Mayor Rodney Dial issued a separate emergency declaration. A shelter was set up at Ketchikan High School.

Two of the victims in Ketchikan were admitted to the hospital and one was treated and released. All other individuals were accounted for, the city and borough said in a joint statement.

Michael Robbins, the superintendent of schools in Ketchikan, said in a statement on social media that a dozen people were staying at the shelter at the local high school as of Monday morning.

But people often stay with friends or relatives after such events, so it remained unknown how many were displaced.

Power was restored to some of the area by 8:15 p.m. Sunday. Other areas will remain without power while the landslide is cleared and broken power poles are replaced.

Landslides include debris flows often triggered by heavy rains. When logging or fire destroys trees, the loss of root structure can weaken soil. Rain that isn’t being sucked up by plants can saturate the ground, making it more likely to slide. Other types include creeps, which move slowly downward, and rock falls.

In Alaska, melting permafrost, retreating glaciers, earthquakes and pounding rains can all trigger landslides.

This story corrects the last name of the borough clerk to Paxton, not Paxon.

Thiessen reported from Anchorage, Alaska. Leah Willingham in Charleston, West Virginia, contributed.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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