Plane crashes at Alaska military site, kills eight

Eight people have been killed after a civilian-contracted aircraft crashed at a remote US Air Force facility in Alaska, authorities said.

The aircraft crashed on Thursday at the airport serving the long-range radar site in Cape Newenham, in southwestern Alaska, according to the Alaskan Command.

Rescuers who reached the crash site confirmed that there were no survivors.

The military did not disclose the identities or nationalities of those on board, saying their names would be released after their families had been notified.

It was also not immediately clear what the aircraft and its occupants were doing at the radar facility, which is responsible for monitoring aircraft operating in Alaskan airspace.

The Alaskan Command said an investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the crash.

“This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve,” Alaskan Command chief Robert Davis said.

Davis described the victims as dedicated professionals carrying out an important mission in a challenging environment.