Eight dead after plane crashes in remote part of Alaska

The National Transportation Safety Board provided the information (Picture: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

A charter plane has killed all eight people on board after crashing near a remote radar site in western Alaska.

The aircraft came down near the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport,around 450 miles (725km) west of Anchorage,on Thursday.

Two pilots and six passengers were on board the aircraft,which had taken off from Anchorage.

The plane is believed to have crashed while approaching the remote site early on Thursday afternoon.

The US military confirmed there were no survivors.

US Air Force Lt Gen Robert Davis,commander of Alaskan Command,said: ‘This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve.’

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center launched a search and rescue operation after receiving reports of an ‘aircraft incident’ near the Cape Newenham radar site.The National Transportation Safety Board said the information available initially was preliminary.The remote radar site is located in western Alaska and is used as part of the region’s air defence network.Authorities have yet to release further details about what caused the crash or the identities of those on board.An investigation into the incident is expected to follow.