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Crash Near Cape Newenham
A charter plane crash in western Alaska killed eight people on board near the Cape Newenham Long-Range Radar Site Airport, according to the U.S. military and the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Eight people have died in the crash of a charter plane at a remote radar base in western Alaska”
The aircraft was a Cessna 441 operated by Security Aviation, and it departed Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and was en route to Cape Newenham when it crashed around 12:15 local time on Thursday.
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Clint Johnson, head of the Alaska region of the National Transportation Safety Board, said the plane had two pilots and six passengers, and search-and-rescue teams later confirmed there were no survivors.
Alaska Command said the crash is under investigation and that the identities of the deceased will be released after families have been informed, while the FAA said the NTSB would lead the investigation with the FAA assisting.
Officials, Agencies, Condolences
Alaskan Command Commander Lieutenant General Robert Davies said, "This is a heavy loss for our military family and the communities we serve," and added that the victims were "professional, dedicated, and performing a vital mission in a challenging environment."
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis also told reporters, "These individuals were dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment," as the command described the aircraft as a "civilian-contracted aircraft."
Clint Johnson said the NTSB was preparing its own investigation and that a team would come from Seattle and be joined by investigators in Anchorage, headed to the site "probably in the next couple of days, weather permitting," according to Alaska Public Media.
CNN reported that Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski expressed her condolences in a statement on X, writing, "I’ve traveled extensively with Security Aviation throughout Alaska, and have met many of their experienced pilots," and thanking the U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB, Alaska State Troopers, and the Rescue Coordination Center for responding.
What Happens Next
The FAA said the cause of the crash is not known yet, and multiple outlets reported that the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident with the NTSB leading.
“The cause of the crash is not known yet”
Alaska Public Media said the military said the names of the passengers and crew will be released 24 hours after notification of next of kin, while the Alaska Command said identities would be released as soon as families have been informed.
CNN reported that only military and approved charter flights are allowed to land at the Cape Newenham facility, and it described the gravel runway as nearly 4,000 feet long and located on the slope of a more-than-2,300-foot-high mountain.
In the meantime, the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, operated by the Alaska National Guard, confirmed it had launched a search-and-rescue mission on Thursday in response to an FAA alert about the incident, and the military said more information would be available in the coming days.
