Utah native at controls of fatal float plane collision

Two float planes collide mid-air with 14 passengers onboard just outside of Ketchikan, Alaska.

At least four people are confirmed dead, two are missing.

At one of the plane's controls, 57-year-old Eden native, Lewis Buck.

ABC4 spoke to his wife Cynthia Buck Tuesday afternoon.

She declined an on-camera interview but said her husband does work for Taquan Air which is based in Ketchikan.

The regional airline offers domestic scheduled passenger and charter services that include shore excursions.

Mrs. Buck says her husband wasn't able to tell her much, but that she did receive a phone call in which he told her there had been an accident and he was hurt.

Cynthia says her saving grace is that he's expected to be OK.

She intends on flying to Alaska Wednesday to be reunited with him.

It comes as the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

"There is no inevitability of float planes coming together in a situation like we have in Ketchikan during a summer," said John Nance, ABC News Contributor. "But, there are a lot of people in the sky and the reality is the pilots have to see and avoid."

The Coast Guard says the planes were flying in a remote area and were not under air traffic control at the time.

Taquan's airplane was flying for Princess Cruises. The second plane was on an independent tour.

Princess Cruises says its thoughts and prayers are with passengers and their families.

ABC4 also reached out to Taquan Air for comment.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the airline sent us a statement. It reads in part: "There are no words other than we are heartbroken over this loss. We are focused on extending our full support to our passengers and their families, along with first responders and other agencies involved."

Story provided by our News Partners at ABC 4 Utah.