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class=”img” alt=”FILE – The National Transportation Safety Board logo and signage are seen at a news conference at NTSB headquarters in Washington, Dec. 18, 2017.”
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FILE – The National Transportation Safety Board logo and signage are seen at a news conference at NTSB headquarters in Washington, Dec. 18, 2017.
Andrew Harnik/AP
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Andrew Harnik/AP
JUNEAU, Alaska — Eight people were tragically killed when a charter plane crashed at a remote radar site in western Alaska on Thursday, according to the U.S. military.
The incident occurred at the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, situated about 450 miles west of Anchorage.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis, who leads the Alaskan Command, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, and Eleventh Air Force, expressed the profound impact of the loss, stating, “This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve.”
The radar site, part of a network managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, monitors aircraft activity in Alaska’s airspace and its borders, as explained in a statement from the Alaskan Command.
The statement did not specify the exact tasks of those aboard but described the plane as a “civilian-contracted aircraft.”
Lt. Gen. Davis characterized the individuals on board as “dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment.” He emphasized the military’s commitment to supporting the families, friends, and colleagues of the victims, acknowledging the efforts of search and recovery teams.
Clint Johnson, the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska region chief, stated that the aircraft, which carried two pilots and six passengers, had departed from Anchorage and was believed to have crashed early Thursday afternoon as it approached Cape Newenham.
