A plane crashed in a remote military site in western Alaska, resulting in the death of all eight individuals aboard. The aircraft was attempting its second landing in heavy fog when communication was lost, according to authorities on Friday.
The Cessna’s two pilots were navigating solely by instruments as visibility was extremely poor, leading to the crash around midday on Thursday. The initial landing attempt had to be aborted due to the foggy conditions. The fatal crash occurred about 500 meters from the airstrip, which is surrounded by mountainous terrain on three sides. The Federal Aviation Administration recommends pilots utilize GPS and instruments when landing at this location.
Among the passengers were two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees and four contractors, two of whom worked for Calista Brice, a group of companies specializing in construction, engineering, and logistics in remote areas. The military has not disclosed the nature of their activities at the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site, located approximately 725 kilometers west of Anchorage on Alaska’s southwest coast.
NTSB investigators were en route to the crash site. The radar facility, established in the 1950s for early missile attack warnings, now monitors the skies towards Russia, North Korea, and China.
U.S. Air Force Lt.-Gen. Robert Davis expressed sorrow over the loss, describing the deceased as dedicated professionals fulfilling a crucial mission in challenging conditions. The tragic incident has deeply impacted the military community and the areas it serves, Davis stated.
Weather conditions deteriorated on the day of the crash as heavy fog enveloped the region. Initial reports indicated low cloud cover, fog, and visibility of approximately 16 kilometers before dropping to less than 400 meters shortly after the crash. Experts suggested the weather was severe enough to warrant a diversion to another landing site.
The airstrip, part of the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center’s remote radar network, is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The site, once active but now sporadically visited by civilian contractors for maintenance, is critical for monitoring aircraft within Alaska’s airspace.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed the deceased employees were part of a project delivery team supporting a U.S. Air Force initiative. The specific details of their assignment were not disclosed.
Security Aviation, based in Anchorage, operated the ill-fated flight. The charter company has not responded to requests for comment.