Eight people were killed in a plane crash near a remote U.S, Air Force radar site in Alaska, according to the U.S. military, the civilian-contracted aircraft crashed shortly after midday local time (20:00 GMT) on Thursday near Cape Newenham, which hosts the airport of a long-range radar site.

Details of the Crash

The plane originally took off from Anchorage International Airport and was bound for Cape Newenham, 450 miles (725 km) to the west by air, the U.S. Air Force Alaskan Command said. Rescuers who landed near the crash site “confirmed there were no survivors,” it added; an investigation is under way and the deceased will be named once their next of kin have been informed.

Who Was on Board

Clint Johnson, the chief for the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska region, said there had been two pilots and six passengers on board, CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, reported. The Cape Newenham site on Alaska’s south-west coast is part of the Alaska Radar System, a network of remote sites that monitor aircraft approaching or operating in Alaskan airspace.

The U.S. Air Force Alaskan Command chief said they had been “dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment.” “This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve,” Lt Gen Robert Davis added. “Our absolute priority right now is providing unwavering support to their families, friends and teammates during this devastating time,” he said in a statement.

“We are profoundly grateful for the swift and tireless response of our search and recovery professionals,” Davis said — the plane was a civilian-contracted Cessna 441, operated by Anchorage-based air charter company Security Aviation, according to a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson. The crash occurred west of Cape Newenham LRRS Airport on Thursday at about 20:15 GMT.

Investigation and Next Steps

It did not say what those on board were doing at the radar site, which tracks aircraft operating in Alaskan airspace, though a spokesperson said Alaskan Command was investigating the crash and would name the dead after their families had been informed. “These individuals were dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment,” Davis added.