Eight Killed in Contractor Plane Crash Near Remote Alaska Radar Site
On August 20, 2026, a civilian Cessna 441 contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crashed near the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site in western Alaska, killing all eight aboard, including an Air Force officer and two Army Corps civilians. The aircraft, operated by Security Aviation, had departed Anchorage and crashed during a second landing attempt in poor weather. A post-crash fire destroyed the wreckage. The NTSB and FAA are investigating. The remote radar site, part of the Alaska Radar System, monitors Arctic airspace near Russia.
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Airman Among 8 Killed in Crash at Remote Alaska Radar Site
On August 20, a Cessna 441 contracted by the U.S. military crashed near the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site in remote Alaska, killing all eight people aboard. The victims included 2nd Lt. Leah A. Borsich, a 23-year-old Air Force civil engineer from the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, and two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees, Sabrina Hansen and Hayden Scalise. The flight was contracted to inspect and maintain a fire suppression system at the radar site. The National Transportation Safety Board reported the crash occurred after two missed approaches in zero visibility, with pilots navigating solely by instruments. The Cape Newenham site is part of the Alaska Radar System, a network monitoring Alaskan airspace for Russian activity. Search and rescue efforts involved Alaska Air National Guard assets including an HH-60W helicopter and HC-130 plane.
Air Force Officer Among 8 Killed in Plane Crash at Remote Alaska Radar Site
On August 20, a Cessna 441 contracted by the U.S. military crashed near the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site in remote Alaska, killing all eight people aboard. The victims include 2nd Lt. Leah A. Borsich, a 23-year-old Air Force civil engineer from the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, and two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees, Sabrina Hansen and Hayden Scalise. The flight was en route to inspect and maintain a fire suppression system at the radar site. The National Transportation Safety Board reported the crash occurred after a second missed approach in zero visibility, with pilots navigating solely by instruments. The Alaska Air National Guard responded with helicopters and recovery aircraft. Cape Newenham is part of the Alaska Radar System, a Cold War-era network monitoring Alaskan airspace for Russian activity.
Air Force officer among eight killed in Alaska plane crash
A U.S. Air Force officer and two Army Corps of Engineers civilians were among eight people killed in a plane crash in Western Alaska on August 20, 2026. The civilian-contracted Cessna 441 aircraft, operated by Security Aviation and chartered by the Army Corps of Engineers, crashed at Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport. The deceased include 2nd Lt. Leah R. Borsich, 23, a project programmer from the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson; and Army Corps employees Sabrina Hansen and Hayden Scalis, both from Anchorage. The aircraft experienced a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions and crashed upon a second attempt. A post-crash fire occurred, and the wreckage was found about a third of a mile west of the runway. The NTSB, FAA, and Security Aviation are investigating the crash.
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Air Force officer and Army Corps employees among eight killed in Alaska plane crash
A civilian-contracted Cessna 441 aircraft crashed on August 20 at Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport in Western Alaska, killing all eight people on board. The victims include U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Leah R. Borsich, 23, a project programmer with the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, and two Army Corps of Engineers civilians: Sabrina Hansen, a fire protection engineer, and Hayden Scalis, a mechanical engineer, both from Anchorage. The flight was chartered by the Army Corps and operated by Security Aviation. The NTSB reported the aircraft had a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions and crashed on a second attempt, with a post-crash fire. The wreckage was found about a third of a mile west of the runway. The crash is under investigation by the NTSB, FAA, and possibly Security Aviation.
Air Force Officer and Army Corps Employees Killed in Alaska Plane Crash
A U.S. Air Force officer and two Army Corps of Engineers civilians were among eight people killed in a plane crash in Western Alaska on August 20, 2026. The civilian-contracted Cessna 441 aircraft crashed at Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, roughly 450 miles west-southwest of Anchorage. The Air Force identified 2nd Lt. Leah R. Borsich, 23, a project programmer in the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The Army Corps identified Sabrina Hansen, a fire protection engineer, and Hayden Scalis, a mechanical engineer, both from Anchorage. They were on official duty inspecting a fire suppression system. The NTSB reported the aircraft had a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions and crashed on a second attempt. A post-crash fire occurred, and there were no survivors. The crash is under investigation by the NTSB and FAA.
Air Force officer among eight killed in Alaska plane crash
A U.S. Air Force officer and two Army Corps of Engineers civilians were among eight people killed in a plane crash in Western Alaska on August 20. The aircraft, a Cessna 441 operated by Security Aviation and chartered by the Army Corps of Engineers, crashed at Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport. The deceased include 2nd Lt. Leah R. Borsich, 23, a project programmer in the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron, and Corps employees Sabrina Hansen and Hayden Scalis, who were on duty inspecting a fire suppression system. The NTSB reported that the aircraft had a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions and crashed upon a second attempt. A post-crash fire occurred, and the wreckage was found about a third of a mile west of the runway. The crash is under investigation by the NTSB and FAA.
Air Force Officer and Two Army Corps Civilians Identified in Alaska Plane Crash
On August 20, 2026, a civilian-contracted Cessna 441 aircraft crashed at Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport in Western Alaska, killing all eight people on board. The victims include U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Leah R. Borsich, 23, a project programmer from the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, and two Army Corps of Engineers civilians, Sabrina Hansen and Hayden Scalis, who were on official duty inspecting a fire suppression system. The flight was chartered by the Army Corps of Engineers and operated by Security Aviation. The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the aircraft made a missed approach due to instrument meteorological conditions and crashed on a second attempt. A post-crash fire occurred, and the wreckage was found about a third of a mile west of the runway. The crash is under investigation by the NTSB and FAA.
Air Force officer among those killed in Alaska plane crash
A U.S. Air Force officer and two Army Corps of Engineers civilians were among eight people killed in a plane crash in Western Alaska on August 20, 2026. The civilian-contracted Cessna 441 aircraft crashed at Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, approximately 450 miles west-southwest of Anchorage. The deceased include 2nd Lt. Leah R. Borsich, 23, a project programmer in the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson; Sabrina Hansen, a fire protection engineer; and Hayden Scalis, a mechanical engineer, both from the Army Corps of Engineers Alaska District. The flight was chartered by the Army Corps of Engineers and operated by Security Aviation. The NTSB reported that the aircraft had a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions and crashed upon a second attempt, with a post-crash fire. The wreckage was found about a third of a mile west of the runway. The crash is under investigation by the NTSB, FAA, and possibly Security Aviation.
8 Dead as Contractor Plane Crashes near Remote Alaska Radar Site
On August 20, a Cessna 441 civilian plane contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crashed near the remote Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site in Alaska, killing all eight people on board. The aircraft had taken off from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, approximately 450 miles away. The radar site is managed by the U.S. Air Force in support of NORAD. Two of the deceased were Army Corps employees; the plane was operated by Security Aviation. The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA will investigate. Alaska Air National Guard units responded with HH-60W helicopters, an HC-130, and Guardian Angel Airmen. The Cape Newenham site, part of the Alaska Radar System, monitors Arctic airspace near Russia. Lt. Gen. Robert Davis expressed condolences and emphasized support for the victims' families.
8 Dead as Contractor Plane Crashes near Remote Alaska Radar Site
A small civilian Cessna 441 aircraft contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crashed on August 20 near the remote Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site in Alaska, killing all eight people on board. The plane had taken off from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, approximately 450 miles away. The radar site is managed by the U.S. Air Force in support of NORAD. Two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees were among the victims. The aircraft reportedly belonged to Security Aviation, an Alaskan air charter company. The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA will investigate the crash. Alaska Air National Guard units responded with HH-60W helicopters, an HC-130, and Guardian Angel Airmen. The Cape Newenham site, dating to the 1950s, is part of the Alaska Radar System monitoring Arctic airspace near Russia.
8 Dead as Contractor Plane Crashes near Remote Alaska Radar Site
A small civilian Cessna 441 aircraft, contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and operated by Security Aviation, crashed on August 20 near the remote Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site in Alaska, killing all eight people on board. The radar site is managed by the U.S. Air Force in support of NORAD. Two of the deceased were Army Corps employees; no NORAD personnel were on the flight. The plane had departed from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, approximately 450 miles away. The Alaska Air National Guard responded with HH-60W helicopters, an HC-130, and Guardian Angel Airmen. The FAA and NTSB will investigate the crash. The Cape Newenham site, dating to the 1950s, is part of the Alaska Radar System used to monitor Arctic airspace near Russia.