A charter aircraft carrying eight people went down Thursday at a remote radar site in western Alaska, killing everyone on board, according to the US military.
The crash occurred at Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, a remote facility located about 450 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska.
“This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve,” US Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis, commander of Alaskan Command, the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and Eleventh Air Force, said in a statement.
The Cape Newenham radar site is operated by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center.
According to Alaskan Command, the site is one of several remote radar facilities that monitor aircraft flying through Alaska’s airspace and near the state’s borders.
Officials did not release details about the specific duties the people on board were performing at the time.
In its statement, Alaskan Command identified the aircraft involved as a “civilian-contracted aircraft.”
Davis said those killed were “dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment. Our absolute priority right now is providing unwavering support to their families, friends and teammates during this devastating time. We are profoundly grateful for the swift and tireless response of our search and recovery professionals.”
Clint Johnson, the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska region chief, said earlier Thursday evening that two pilots and six passengers were on board.
The plane had taken off from Anchorage and was believed to have crashed early Thursday afternoon on approach to Cape Newenham, Johnson said.
