The United States military announced that a civilian charter plane contracted by the military crashed near a remote military radar station in western Alaska on Thursday (August 20), killing two pilots and six passengers.
The incident occurred at the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, located about 450 miles west of Anchorage.
According to preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crashed plane was a Cessna 441 twin-engine turboprop aircraft operated by the private aviation company Security Aviation. The plane took off from Anchorage and was heading to Cape Newenham when it crashed around 12:15 p.m. local time on Thursday, close to its destination.
The Alaskan Command stated that it was a civilian contract flight carrying eight individuals, all of whom were confirmed to have perished. The cause of the accident is currently unknown.
Major General Robert Davis of the Alaskan Command expressed in a statement, “This is a heartbreaking loss for our military family and the communities we serve.” He described the personnel on board as “dedicated professionals performing important missions in challenging environments.”
“Our top priority at this somber moment is to unwaveringly support their families, friends, and teammates. We deeply appreciate the swift and relentless actions of the search and recovery teams,” said Davis.
The military has not disclosed the specific roles of the personnel at the time of the incident. The names of the deceased will be released after notifying their next of kin.
The Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site is managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center and is part of Alaska’s remote radar station network responsible for tracking aircraft activity in Alaska’s airspace and border areas.
The airport at Cape Newenham is a makeshift landing field used by the United States Air Force primarily as a gateway for entry and exit to the long-range radar stations, allowing only military aircraft and approved charter flights to land.
According to FAA aviation charts, the airport features a gravel runway nearly 4,000 feet long, situated on a mountain slope at an altitude of over 2,300 feet. The runway is surrounded by elevated terrain on both sides and at the southern end, making landing aborts challenging after passing a certain point.
However, there is currently no evidence linking the local terrain to the accident, and the cause of the crash remains unknown. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the accident investigation.
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski took to social media to express her gratitude to the United States Coast Guard, NTSB, Alaska State Troopers, and the rescue coordination center for their response. She mentioned her past experiences flying with Security Aviation’s aircraft throughout Alaska and interacting with many experienced pilots from the company.
“I thank the U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB, Alaska State Troopers, and the search and rescue coordination center for their prompt response. Alaska is praying for the individuals on board, their families, and the team at Security Aviation,” wrote Murkowski.