Eight people have died after a civilian-contracted aircraft crashed at a remote United States Air Force facility in Alaska, military authorities said Thursday.
The aircraft went down at the airport serving a long-range radar installation at Cape Newenham in southwestern Alaska, according to the Alaskan Command.
Emergency responders, who arrived at the crash site, confirmed that none of the people on board survived, the command said in a statement.
Authorities have yet to release the identities or nationalities of the victims. The military also did not immediately disclose the purpose of the flight or what the passengers and crew were doing at the radar facility, which is responsible for monitoring aircraft operating within Alaskan airspace.
An Alaskan Command spokesperson said an investigation had been launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The identities of those killed will be made public after their relatives have been informed, the spokesperson added.
“This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve,” said the head of Alaskan Command, Lieutenant General Robert Davis.
“These individuals were dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment,” Davis added.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight operations and other circumstances surrounding the accident as efforts continue to determine the cause of the crash.
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