Subsequent news reports state that there were only four survivors, all passengers. Reports that one survivor swam to shore or was rescued by a Coast Guard helo were erroneous.

According to one survivor, the forward cargo door on the pilot’s side popped open soon after takeoff. The pilot radioed Kodiak that he was returning immediately due to an unspecified problem. Hearing this, the seaplane pilot kept his plane taxiing. Unfortunately, the plane struck the water before the pilot could land it, but the seaplane was able to rescue the survivors.

As if to twist the knife in the wound a few times, the passengers were all friends or relatives, belonged to a small Russian Orthodox sect called the Old Believers (only about 1500 in Alaska), and were returning from a fishing trip to celebrate Orthodox Christmas.