Charter Cessna 441 Crash at Remote Alaska Radar Site Kills All 8 Aboard.
A charter aircraft crashed Thursday at the remote Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport in western Alaska, killing all eight people aboard.
The Cessna 441 had departed Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and was flying to Cape Newenham when it crashed at about 12:15 p.m., roughly 450 miles west of Anchorage, according to the FAA.
Two pilots and six passengers were on board, the NTSB said. Search and rescue teams reached the crash site and confirmed there were no survivors.
The aircraft was a civilian-contracted charter plane, although authorities had not immediately disclosed what mission the group was carrying out. The Cape Newenham radar facility is part of a network of remote sites used to monitor aircraft operating in Alaska’s airspace and along its borders.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said the flight was operated by Security Aviation, an Anchorage-based charter company. She expressed condolences to the victims’ families and praised the Coast Guard, NTSB, Alaska State Troopers and Rescue Coordination Center for their response.
“This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis, commander of Alaskan Command, the Alaskan NORAD Region and Eleventh Air Force.
Davis said those aboard were “dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment,” while emphasizing that support for their families, friends and teammates was the immediate priority.
The identities of the eight victims are expected to be released after their next of kin have been notified.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The NTSB and other agencies are expected to examine the aircraft, flight path, weather and operational circumstances as investigators work to determine what went wrong in the remote and challenging Alaskan environment.
