Charter plane crash in western Alaska kills 8

A charter plane carrying eight people crashed Thursday near a remote radar site in western Alaska, according to federal officials. The Cessna 441, operated by Security Aviation, went down near its destination of Cape Newenham around 12:15 p.m. local time.

The flight departed from Anchorage and was headed to Cape Newenham, approximately 450 miles to the southwest. Clint Johnson, the National Transportation Safety Board's Alaska region chief, confirmed two pilots and six passengers were on board. He did not immediately have details on their status. The plane crashed on land near the Cape Newenham Airport, an Air Force airstrip that provides access to the Long Range Radar Site.

The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, operated by the Alaska Air National Guard, launched a search and rescue mission after receiving a report of an aircraft incident. Search and rescue forces were dispatched to the scene. The cause of the crash is not yet known. The FAA and the NTSB will investigate, with the NTSB leading the inquiry.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski expressed condolences in a statement. "I've traveled extensively with Security Aviation throughout Alaska, and have met many of their experienced...