Buildings and a runway sit at the Indian Mountain Long Range Radar Station in Alaska, Sept. 6, 2023. A civilian-contracted plane crashed at Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site in western Alaska on Thursday, killing all eight people aboard, prompting the commander of Alaskan Command to call it “a devastating loss for our military families and the communities we serve.” (Julia Lebens/Air Force)
All eight people aboard a plane chartered by the Army Corps of Engineers were killed in a crash this week near a remote radar site on the western coast of Alaska, according to federal aviation and military officials.
The Corps of Engineers confirmed that two of its employees were among the dead, a statement Friday said.
Two pilots and six passengers were on board the Thursday flight, the Associated Press reported. The U.S. military typically waits at least 24 hours after notifying next of kin before releasing victims’ names.
“This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve,” Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis, leader of Alaskan Command, said in a statement.
Next of kin have been notified and additional information will be released “as it becomes available and is appropriate to share,” the agency said.
The twin-engine Cessna 441 was headed to Cape Newenhem when it crashed around 12:15 p.m. local time, according to the FAA. It departed from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.
The plane went down near the Cape Newenham Airport, an Air Force airstrip near the Bering Sea that provides access to the Long Range Radar Station.
Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center manages the station, which is part of a network of remote radar sites that tracks aircraft operating in Alaska’s airspace and along its borders, according to the Air Force. Due to their locations, the only way to get in or out is by plane or barge, service officials have said.
Alaska Command did not provide details on the specific work the individuals were doing. It described the plane as a “civilian-contracted aircraft.”
Davis described those on board as “dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment,” the AP said.
“Our absolute priority right now is providing unwavering support to their families, friends and teammates during this devastating time,” Davis said.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, the FAA said.
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