An Alaska plane crash involving a military charter aircraft near the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site killed all eight people on board, including two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees and four contractors, according to military confirmations reported by Fox News. The twin-engine Cessna 441 went down in southwestern Alaska after encountering heavy fog during a flight originating from Anchorage.
Flight Details and Crash Site
The charter flight departed Anchorage at 9:15 a.m. Thursday and crashed at approximately 11:45 a.m., according to Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Alaska Regional Office, as cited by Fox News. Operating under Security Aviation, the two pilots were navigating solely by instruments due to adverse weather conditions. Johnson stated that the aircraft had already executed one missed approach to the runway before losing contact with Anchorage on its second landing attempt. The wreckage was located about a quarter-mile from the runway on rising terrain and was described as highly fragmented.
Victims and Military Response
The eight fatalities include two pilots, two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees, and four contractors, as confirmed by Fox News. The Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site is situated roughly 460 miles west-southwest of Anchorage along the ocean and serves as part of a network tracking aircraft operations across Alaska. U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis, commander of Alaskan Command, the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and Eleventh Air Force, addressed the incident in a statement provided to Fox News, calling it a devastating loss for the military family and noting that the victims were dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission.
Investigation and Search Operations
Federal investigators have deployed teams to examine the remote accident scene. According to Fox News, the NTSB dispatched a six-person team to the site, while the Federal Aviation Administration sent a single investigator. Search and recovery efforts involved the U.S. Coast Guard, the Alaska State Troopers, and the Rescue Coordination Center. The military stated that families of the victims have been notified, with formal identity releases scheduled for 24 hours following family notification.
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