US regional carrier PenAir has disclosed that 42 occupants were on board a Saab 2000 involved in a landing accident in Alaska on 17 October.

US regional carrier PenAir has disclosed that 42 occupants were on board a Saab 2000 involved in a landing accident in Alaska on 17 October.

The aircraft – provisionally identified as N686PA – appears to have overrun the far end of runway 13 at Unalaska Dutch Harbor airport, in the Aleutian Islands, after arriving from Anchorage at about 17:40.

It came to rest over the edge of an embankment close to the shoreline, suffering damage at least to its left-hand engine.

The airport's runway is about 1,200m in length. NOTAMs from the airport show the runway was subsequently closed.

Alaska's Department of Transportation & Public Facilities says it was notified at 18:00 that a commercial aircraft was "off the runway" at the airport.

PenAir says the aircraft departed Anchorage at 15:15, operating as flight 3296 with 39 passengers and three crew members on board.

It has yet to clarify the extent of any injuries to the occupants.

Meteorological data for the airport shortly before the landing indicates it was subject to winds from the north-west, gusting up to 27kt, which would tentatively indicate a tailwind for runway 13, but investigators have not confirmed the weather situation or other circumstances relating to the accident.

Alaska Airlines says it was marketing the flight, which PenAir operates on its behalf, and that it is "gathering information about the welfare of those on board".

PenAir, also known as Peninsula Airways, was picked up by Alaska's Ravn Air Group last year following a bankruptcy auction.