Eight killed as charter Cessna crashes at remote Alaska radar site

A twin-engine Cessna operated by Security Aviation crashed Thursday at Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport in western Alaska, killing all eight people on board. The U.S. military confirmed the fatalities to The Associated Press. Two pilots and six passengers were aboard, on a chartered flight from Anchorage to Cape Newenham.

The crash site is approximately 450 miles west of Anchorage. Cape Newenham lies roughly 40 miles south of Goodnews Bay. After receiving a report of an aircraft incident near the installation, the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center activated a search-and-rescue mission.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis, who commands Alaskan Command, the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, and Eleventh Air Force, described the crash as a devastating loss for the military family and the communities the command serves. His statement came via the AP. Clint Johnson, the National Transportation Safety Board's Alaska region chief, separately confirmed the crew and passenger count to the AP.

The NTSB, U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers, and the Rescue Coordination Center have all responded to the site. No cause has been established. The investigation is at an early stage.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, addressed the crash on X, extending condolences and noting she has traveled extensively with Security Aviation throughout Alaska, having met many of the operator's experienced pilots. She cited her appreciation for the agencies on the scene. "Alaska is praying for those on board, their loved ones, and the team at Security Aviation," she wrote.

Security Aviation has not issued a public statement. The NTSB and the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center had not provided additional comment as of initial reporting. What to watch: the NTSB's preliminary findings and the identification of those killed.