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Eight people were killed when a charter plane crashed in western Alaska on Thursday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US military officials, as reported by CNN.
The aircraft crashed at around 12:15pm local time near a radar site in the remote Cape Newenham area. According to preliminary FAA information, the Cessna 441 aircraft was travelling from Anchorage to Cape Newenham, about 450 miles southwest of Anchorage.
The charter flight, operated by Security Aviation, was carrying two pilots and six passengers.
Alaskan Command said the aircraft was a civilian-contracted flight carrying eight personnel. Search and rescue teams later confirmed that there were no survivors.
The plane crashed at Cape Newenham Airport, a US Air Force facility that provides access to a long-range radar site. Only military and authorised charter flights are permitted to land there.
The cause of the crash remains unknown. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation, with the FAA also involved.
Following reports of the crash, the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, operated by the Alaska Air National Guard, launched a search and rescue operation.
US Air Force Lt Gen Robert Davis described the incident as “a tragic loss” for the military community and the communities they serve. He said the victims were dedicated professionals performing important duties in a challenging environment.
Alaskan Command said the names of the victims would be released after their families have been notified.