A tragic plane crash occurred on Monday afternoon near Nanwalek, located on Alaska’s southern Kenai Peninsula, in the United States, claiming the lives of two adults and leaving another seriously injured.
The aircraft involved was identified as a Cessna 207, according to a report by Alaska’s News Source.
The small commercial plane reportedly belonged to Smokey Bay Air, a charter service headquartered in Homer, as noted by Must Read Alaska.
While the exact number of passengers on board is still uncertain, the National Transportation Safety Board has estimated that three to four people may have been aboard the ill-fated flight.
“The Alaska State Troopers are on scene of a plane crash in Nanwalek. Two adults were killed in the incident and one adult was seriously injured and medevaced to an Anchorage area hospital,” the Alaska Department of Safety told ABC News.
The identity of the injured passenger has not yet been released, but they were promptly flown to a medical facility in the Anchorage area for urgent treatment.
“It is unclear how many people are on board, and also unclear, the cause and injuries,” stated Austin McDaniel, spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety.
This crash adds to a growing list of aviation-related incidents recorded in 2024. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB have documented numerous safety incidents in the year’s first four months alone.
One of the most devastating accidents so far occurred on January 29, when a commercial aircraft and a military helicopter collided over the Potomac River.
The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operating as American Airlines Flight 5342, struck a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk as it approached Reagan Washington National Airport. The crash resulted in the loss of all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft.
The latest incident near Nanwalek is the second such crash on the Kenai Peninsula in recent weeks. Fortunately, a previous crash involving a family of three did not result in fatalities.
As investigations by the NTSB and DPS continue, officials are urging patience as they work to uncover the cause of Monday’s crash.
“Our thoughts are with all those involved,” the Alaska Department of Transport and Public Facilities posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Authorities have promised to release further details as they become available.
