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The U.S. military confirmed Friday that two Army Corps of Engineers workers perished in a charter aircraft accident that claimed eight lives in southwestern Alaska. The twin-engine Cessna 441 went down Thursday while en route from Anchorage to the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site after becoming disoriented in dense fog conditions.
Officials have withheld passenger identities pending notification protocols, with names expected to be released 24 hours following family notification. Lt. Gen. Robert Davis, commanding officer of Alaskan Command and the Eleventh Air Force, characterized the incident as catastrophic for military personnel and their communities. He pledged comprehensive support for the deceased’s families and colleagues while commending the search and recovery teams involved in the operation.
The Cape Newenham facility serves as one of multiple isolated radar installations responsible for monitoring aircraft movements throughout Alaskan airspace. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski issued a statement expressing condolences and acknowledging the U.S. Coast Guard, National Transportation Safety Board, Alaska State Troopers, and the Rescue Coordination Center for their coordinated emergency response.
The crash marks another tragedy in Alaskan aviation. A Bering Air flight headed to Nome crashed onto sea ice last year, killing all 10 aboard after investigators determined the aircraft exceeded maximum takeoff weight limits for icing conditions by over 1,000 pounds, according to NTSB findings.
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