\n A charter plane crashed near a remote radar site in western Alaska, killing all 8 people on board, federal aviation and military officials said.\n <\/p>\n
\n The flight, a Cessna 441, departed Anchorage and was headed to Cape Newenham, about 450 miles southwest, when it crashed near its destination around 12:15 p.m. Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration said, according to preliminary information.\n <\/p>\n
\n Clint Johnson, the National Transportation Safety Board\u2019s Alaska region chief, said two pilots and six passengers were on board the charter flight operated by Security Aviation, according to the Associated Press.<\/a>\n <\/p>\n \n The Alaskan Command said the aircraft was a civilian-contracted flight carrying eight personnel. Search-and-rescue crews later confirmed there were no survivors, the command said.\n <\/p>\n \n The US Army Corp of Engineers\u2019s Alaska District said it was aware one of its chartered flights crashed, and that two USACE employees were among the victims, it said in a statement<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n \n The plane went down at Cape Newenham Airport, an Air Force airstrip that provides access to the Long Range Radar Site, the command said in its statement.\n <\/p>\n \n This cause of the crash is not yet known.\n <\/p>\n \n The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation, the FAA said.\n <\/p>\n \n Only military and approved charter flights are allowed to land at the Cape Newenham facility.\n <\/p>\n \n The gravel runway is nearly 4,000 feet long and is located on the slope of a more-than-2,300-foot-high mountain, according to FAA maps<\/a>. There is high terrain reported on both sides and at the south end of the runway, which can make aborting a landing \u201cimprobable\u201d after a certain point.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cThis is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve,\u201d said US Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis. \u201cThese individuals were dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n The names of the passengers and crew will be released after next of kin have been notified, the command said.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cOur 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,\u201d Davis said.\n <\/p>\n