Plane crashed in the USA: all eight people on board killed
A Cessna 441 charter plane crashed near a remote radar site in western Alaska. There were two pilots and six passengers on board. The plane departed from Anchorage and was en route to Cape Newenham. The circumstances of the accident are still unknown.
A charter plane crashed near a remote radar site in western Alaska, and all eight people on board were killed, American aviation and government officials confirmed.
The aircraft, a Cessna 441, took off from Anchorage and was en route to Cape Newenham, located about 724 km southwest of the city. According to preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the plane crashed near its destination around 12:15 PM on Thursday, local time.
Clint Johnson, head of the Alaska region at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), stated that there were two pilots and six passengers on board. The flight was operated by Security Aviation.
Alaska Command reported that it was a civilian flight operated under contract with the military. Search and rescue teams later confirmed that there were no survivors.
The plane crashed at the Cape Newenham airport, a US Air Force landing strip used for access to the long-range radar site. Only military flights and authorized charter flights are permitted to land at the facility.
The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, operated by the Alaska Air National Guard, launched a search and rescue operation immediately following an alert from the FAA.
The cause of the crash remains unknown. The NTSB will lead the investigation into the incident.
"This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve. These individuals were dedicated professionals performing a vital mission in a challenging environment," said US Air Force Lieutenant General Robert Davis.
The names of the passengers and crew members will be released once their families have been notified.
