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A civilian-contracted aircraft crash at a remote United States Air Force facility in Alaska has killed eight people, military officials have confirmed.
The plane went down on Thursday at the airport of a long-range radar site in Cape Newenham, located on Alaska’s southwestern coast, according to the Alaskan Command. The facility monitors aircraft activity across Alaskan airspace, but officials have not disclosed the purpose of the flight or what those onboard were doing at the site.
Emergency responders who reached the crash location confirmed there were no survivors, the Alaskan Command said in a statement.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash and said the identities of those who died would be released after their families had been notified. Alaskan Command chief Robert Davis described the incident as a major loss for the military community and the people it serves.
“This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve,” Davis said.
He added that the victims were “dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment.”
The remote location of Cape Newenham, which is far from major population centres, has posed challenges for rescue and recovery efforts. Officials have not provided further details about the aircraft involved or whether anyone reported technical issues before the crash.
The investigation will focus on determining what caused the aircraft to go down and whether environmental, mechanical or operational factors played a role.
Military officials said they would provide further updates as the investigation continues and more information becomes available.
