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A small plane operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crashed near a remote aircraft-tracking radar site in western Alaska on Thursday, killing all eight people on board, according to the U.S. military. The twin-engine Cessna 441, which was chartered to reach the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, was en route from the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport when the crash occurred approximately 450 miles west of Anchorage.

The FAA reported that two pilots and six passengers were aboard the aircraft, though no names were released at the time. Among the passengers were two employees of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as confirmed by Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a military facility in Anchorage. U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis, commander of Alaskan Command, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, stating that it was a "devastating blow" for the military community and the communities they serve.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are currently investigating the crash, which reportedly occurred in foggy conditions. The airport at the radar site is a private military facility, managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, part of a network of remote radar sites that monitor aircraft in Alaska's airspace and along its borders.

The military described the plane as a "civilian-contracted aircraft," but provided no further details on the specific work the individuals were performing on board.