Plane with 9 aboard crashes near cliff in Alaska

Officials say eight passengers on an excursion off the Holland America Line cruise ship Westerdam and a pilot were in a plane that crashed near a cliff in Alaska. Photo / AP

A sightseeing plane carrying eight cruise ship passengers and a pilot has crashed near Ella Lake in the US state of Alaska, the Holland America cruise line says.

"The condition of those onboard the plane is not known at this time," the company said in a statement on Thursday.

According to reports, a helicopter had spotted the plane on a cliff face more than 250 metres above the lake.

The United States Coast Guard and Alaskan authorities were on their way to the crash site, the Alaska Dispatch News reported.

Holland America said the eight passengers from its MS Westerdam were sightseeing on a float plane owned by Ketchikan-based Promech Air.

The Westerdam departed Seattle June 20 for a seven-day cruise through southeastern Alaska.

"We are incredibly distressed by this situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with those onboard the plane and their families," the Seattle-based cruise company said.

-AAP