A tragic incident unfolded in western Alaska as a plane crashed at a remote military site, claiming the lives of all eight individuals onboard. Officials revealed that the aircraft was attempting its second runway approach in dense fog when communication was lost. The Cessna’s pilots were forced to rely solely on instruments due to poor visibility, ultimately resulting in the crash around midday on Thursday.
According to Clint Johnson, the chief of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Alaska, regulations mandated the pilots to abort their initial landing due to the challenging conditions. The fatal crash occurred during the second landing attempt, approximately 500 meters away from the airstrip, which is surrounded by mountainous terrain on three sides. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends the use of GPS and other instruments for safe landings at this location.
The aircraft carried the two pilots, two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel, and four contractors, two of whom were employees of Calista Brice, a subsidiary of Calista Corp., an Alaska Native regional corporation. The purpose of their mission at the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site, situated about 725 kilometers west of Anchorage along Alaska’s southwest coast, has not been disclosed by the military.
Authorities confirmed that the NTSB dispatched investigators to the crash site for further examination. The radar facility, established in the 1950s for early missile threat detection, presently monitors airspace towards Russia, North Korea, and China.
U.S. Air Force Lt.-Gen. Robert Davis expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the individuals involved, commending their dedication to a crucial task in a challenging environment. The aircraft accident occurred amidst changing weather conditions, with heavy fog reducing visibility significantly just before the tragic event.
The private military site housing the airstrip is managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, forming part of a network of radar facilities overseeing air traffic in Alaska and along its borders. The outpost at Cape Newenham, historically operational for radar surveillance, now sees sporadic visits from civilian contractors for system maintenance. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mentioned that the deceased employees were en route to support a project for the U.S. Air Force.
The flight was conducted by Security Aviation, a charter company based in Anchorage. Despite attempts to reach out for comments, the company did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the incident.