Clint Johnson Confirms All Eight People on Board Charter Plane Killed in Remote Alaska Crash
A charter aircraft carrying eight people was killed in a crash near a Cape Newenham radar site in western Alaska on Thursday. The twin-engine Cessna Conquest 441, operated by Security Aviation and chartered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, crashed approximately 11:45 a.m. local time after a second landing attempt in severe fog and low visibility. Clint Johnson, the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska region chief, reported that the aircraft carried two pilots and six passengers, including two Army Corps of Engineers employees and four contractors. The plane crashed on steep, mountainous terrain about a quarter-mile west of the runway. Because of the high terrain on both sides of the runway, pilots must commit to a landing early, making a successful go-around improbable once a certain point is reached. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are leading the investigation. A six-member team of federal investigators is expected to arrive on site to recover the highly fragmented wreckage from the mountain side.
Sources
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After 'Devastating' Plane Crash in Alaska, More Clues Emerge
Newser
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Eight die in plane crash at remote Alaskan military site, air force says
BBC
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Charter plane crashes near remote radar site in western Alaska, killing all 8 on board
CNN
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Plane crashed on second attempt to land in heavy fog in Alaska, killing all 8 aboard, officials say
AP News
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NTSB says Security Aviation plane was on its 2nd landing attempt when it crashed, killing 8
KYUK