Eight people have died after a civilian-contracted charter aircraft crashed near a remote military radar facility in western Alaska, according to the US military.
The aircraft went down on Thursday at the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, about 450 miles west of Anchorage. Rescue personnel who reached the crash site confirmed that there were no survivors.
The plane had departed from Anchorage and was believed to have crashed while approaching the remote facility. The National Transportation Safety Board said there were two pilots and six passengers on board.
Military Site Supports Alaska Air Defence
Cape Newenham is part of a network of remote radar installations used to monitor aircraft operating in Alaska's airspace and along the state's borders.
The facility is managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center. Authorities have not yet disclosed what specific work the passengers were carrying out at the site when the crash occurred.
Alaskan Command chief Lt. Gen. Robert Davis described the incident as a devastating loss, saying the people on board were professionals performing an important mission in a challenging environment.
Investigation Underway
The identities of those killed have not yet been released as authorities work to notify their families.
The National Transportation Safety Board and other authorities are investigating the crash. Officials have not yet established what caused the aircraft to go down.
The remote location of Cape Newenham presented challenges for search and recovery teams, but rescuers were eventually able to reach the crash site and confirm the fatalities.
The tragedy comes just months after another deadly US military aviation accident, underscoring the risks associated with operating aircraft in demanding environments.
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