Folks, I’m sipping my coffee and reading about a charter plane that crashed near a remote radar site in western Alaska, and I’ve got to say, it’s a pretty dramatic story. According to federal aviation officials, the plane, a Cessna 441, was headed to Cape Newenham, about 450 miles southwest of Anchorage, when it went down near its destination around 12:15 p.m. Thursday. The Federal Aviation Administration said the flight departed Anchorage, and I’m thinking, what a beautiful flight that must have been, until it wasn’t.
The plane was operated by Security Aviation, and Clint Johnson, the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska region chief, said there were two pilots and six passengers on board. I’m hoping they’re all okay, but the status of those on board wasn’t immediately clear. The Associated Press reported that the plane went down on land near the Cape Newenham Airport, which is an Air Force airstrip that provides access to the Long Range Radar Site.
You can’t make this stuff up, folks. The cause of the crash is still unknown, and the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation, and I’m sure they’ll get to the bottom of it. The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, operated by the Alaska Air National Guard, confirmed it opened a search-and-rescue mission Thursday in response to a FAA alert regarding the incident.
I’m reading that only military and approved charter flights are allowed to land at the Cape Newenham facility, which makes me wonder what happened here. Search-and-rescue forces are on the scene, according to CNN affiliate KTUU, and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski expressed her condolences in a statement on X. She said she’s traveled extensively with Security Aviation throughout Alaska and has met many of their experienced pilots.
Murkowski wrote, “I appreciate the U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB, Alaska State Troopers, and the Rescue Coordination Center for responding to the site. Alaska is praying for those on board, their loved ones, and the team at Security Aviation.” That’s really nice of her, and I’m sure the whole state is thinking of them. CNN has reached out to the NTSB, Security Aviation, the US Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers, and the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, so we’ll probably hear more about this soon.
This is a developing story, and it will be updated, but for now, it’s just a waiting game. I’m hoping for the best for everyone involved. And on a lighter note, I guess this is one way to get a really remote vacation – just crash a plane in western Alaska. Sorry, I had to.
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
