Alaska crash claims 8 lives as charter plane goes down near remote military radar site

JUNEAU, ALASKA: A civilian-contracted aircraft carrying eight people crashed on Thursday, August 20, at a remote radar installation in western Alaska, killing everyone aboard, and triggering a search-and-rescue operation in one of the state’s most isolated locations.

The Cessna 441 had departed Anchorage and was heading toward Cape Newenham when it went down.

Among those killed were two employees of the US Army Corps of Engineers, while the remaining six included two pilots and four other passengers.

Deadly crash leaves 8 dead

The aircraft went down at approximately 12.15 pm near the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, about 450 miles west of Anchorage.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Cessna 441 had taken off from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and was traveling toward Cape Newenham.

The aircraft was described by the military as a civilian-contracted plane, although authorities had not immediately disclosed exactly what assignment the passengers were undertaking.

Search and rescue crews were sent toward the remote site following the crash.

The difficult terrain and isolation of the installation made the response particularly challenging.

Teams eventually reached the area and confirmed that there were no survivors.

The military confirmed on Friday morning that two of the eight victims were employees of the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Their families had been notified, officials said.

The military has so far not indicated whether mechanical problems, weather or another factor played a role.

Military community left stunned

The tragedy was quickly felt across Alaska’s military community.

US Air Force Lt Gen Robert Davis, in a statement, described those aboard as dedicated professionals performing an important mission in a demanding environment and said supporting their families, friends, and colleagues was the command’s immediate priority.

The names of the victims were being withheld while authorities completed the process of notifying next of kin.

The military said the identities would be released 24 hours after the appropriate family notifications.

The destination itself, however, is an important part of Alaska’s remote defense infrastructure.

Crash site plays key role in defense

The Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site forms part of a network of isolated radar installations used to monitor aircraft operating in and around Alaska’s airspace and along the state’s borders.

The site is managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, according to Alaskan Command.

The crash therefore occurred at a location that plays a role in monitoring the vast and strategically important Alaskan airspace, although officials have not suggested that the radar mission itself had anything to do with the accident.

With all eight people aboard killed, federal investigators will now work to determine why the aircraft crashed.