A plane carrying at least eight people crashed in Alaska, local authorities said Tuesday.

Guy Hayes, spokesman for the Alaska National Guard, said the crash site was 32 km north of Dillingham. A passing-by aircraft saw the wreckage Monday evening and informed the Guard.

Hayes said Alaska State Troopers said there may have been "eight or nine" people on board, and there were possible fatalities.

Poor weather has hampered the rescue operation, federal officials said.

The downed plane is a 1957 Dehavilland DHC-3 Otter registered to a local communications company, the Federal Aviation Administration said.