Charter plane crash near western Alaska military radar site kills all eight people on board

Flight details and crash location

The twin-engine Cessna 441 departed Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Thursday, 20 August, bound for the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site. The aircraft was operated by Security Aviation, a commercial charter company based in Anchorage. At approximately 12:15 p.m. local time (20:00 GMT), the aircraft crashed on land during its approach to the runway, coming down west of the Cape Newenham LRRS Airport. The remote airfield is situated roughly 450 miles (725 kilometers) west of Anchorage along the southwestern coast of Alaska. All eight people on board the charter flight were killed in the crash.

Personnel and military operations

The flight carried two pilots and six passengers on a mission contracted for the federal government. The US Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that it had chartered the flight to support operations at the installation and that two of its civilian employees were among the six passengers killed. The agency noted that families of its deceased staff had been notified and that it was coordinating with federal, state, and local officials. Air Force Lieutenant General Robert Davis, commander of Alaskan Command, the Alaska NORAD Region, and the Eleventh Air Force, addressed the loss in an official statement.

This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve.

Davis described the occupants as dedicated professionals performing a vital mission in a demanding environment, while pledging assistance to the victims' relatives and colleagues.

Our absolute priority right now is providing unwavering support to their families, friends and teammates during this devastating time. We are profoundly grateful for the swift and tireless response of our search and recovery professionals.

Emergency response and safety investigations

Emergency responders mobilized across southwestern Alaska following reports of the crash. Personnel from the 212th Rescue Squadron reached the site and confirmed that there were no survivors among the wreckage. The search and recovery operation also drew support from the US Coast Guard, the Alaska State Troopers, and the Rescue Coordination Center. The National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation to determine the probable cause of the crash, with the Federal Aviation Administration providing support. Clint Johnson, the NTSB regional chief in Alaska, stated that investigators are reviewing the aircraft's flight path and approach. Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan requested formal briefings on the incident from both the FAA and the NTSB, while Senator Lisa Murkowski noted her prior travel experience with Security Aviation and offered condolences to the families and the charter operator.

Strategic role of Cape Newenham

The Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site is a restricted military outpost that is closed to the public and accessible solely by aircraft or sea vessels. The base is operated and maintained by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center as a component of the Alaska Radar System. Radar data gathered at Cape Newenham feeds directly into the Alaska Region of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the binational US-Canadian command tasked with monitoring northern aerospace approaches and tracking aircraft operating near American borders. Construction at Cape Newenham began in 1950 during the early stages of the Cold War, when the United States established a perimeter of early warning radar stations to detect potential Soviet aircraft.