Extra light airplane with nine people on board has crashed on Thursday about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of the city of Ketchikan, in the US state of Alaska. The company that organized the trip has confirmed that there are no survivors .

The eight passengers were guests on the HAL Westerdam, which is on a seven-day cruise that departed Seattle on Saturday.

"We are incredibly distressed by this situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with those onboard the plane and their families," the statement said. "Holland America Line is extending its full support to traveling companions of the guests involved."

The ship had sailed from Seattle on Saturday and eight passengers were conducting a 'tour' on extra light aircraft. 

There was no immediate indication of why the plane crashed to the granite rock face of a cliff, 800 feet above Ella Lake