A charter plane carrying eight people crashed near a remote radar site in western Alaska, federal officials confirmed Thursday.
The aircraft, which departed from Anchorage and was approaching Cape Newenham when the incident occurred, was believed to have been on approach to land at the time of the crash. Federal officials said two pilots and six passengers were on board, but did not immediately have details on their status.
The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center said it launched a search and rescue mission after receiving a report of an "aircraft incident" near the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site. It said additional information would be released as it became available and did not respond to questions.
According to Clint Johnson, the National Transportation Safety Board's Alaska region chief, the plane took off from Anchorage and is believed to have crashed early Thursday afternoon on approach to Cape Newenham. He did not immediately have details on their status.
This incident has raised concerns about the safety of air travel in western Alaska, particularly in areas with limited infrastructure and harsh weather conditions. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the crash, and further information will be released as it becomes available.
In related news, the NTSB has been investigating a series of aviation incidents in recent months, including a fatal crash in June that killed five people. The agency has also been working to improve safety standards for air travel in the United States.
This article is based on information provided by federal officials and the National Transportation Safety Board. It does not include any additional or speculative reporting.
Written by: Chad Mirage | The Citizen Edition
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