“This is a devastating loss,” Lincoln County Sheriff Michael Wood said
NEED TO KNOW
- A medical transport plane crashed near Ruidoso, N.M., on the morning of Thursday, May 14, killing all four of its occupants, officials said
- The crash also sparked a wildfire estimated to be less than 5 acres
- The FAA and the NTSB will be investigating the crash and the cause remains unknown
A medical transport plane crashed in New Mexico this week, killing all four people on board, officials said.
The King aircraft traveling from Roswell, N.M., to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport on Thursday, May 14, did not arrive that morning as scheduled, Lincoln County authorities said in a news release.
Emergency protocols were activated once communication and radar contact were lost with the plane, the county said, adding that authorities then received reports of the missing craft and a fire in the Capitan Mountains.
First responders were summoned to the scene.
A Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson tells PEOPLE in an email that, based on preliminary information, the crash occurred around 4 a.m. local time near Ruidoso, N.M. The cause has not been determined.
“The aircraft has been located and that there were four souls on board,” the county said. “All four individuals have been confirmed deceased at the scene.”
The identities of the victims will not be released until their next of kin are notified, the county said.
The crash caused a fire in the area that was estimated to be less than 5 acres, according to officials, with the U.S. Forest Service coordinating with other agencies to control the blaze.
“This is a devastating loss,” Lincoln County Sheriff Michael Wood said in a video update shared on Facebook from the scene. “This one hits closer to home than just geographics.”
“There's still an active wildfire up there on that mountain,” he added. “It's very rugged, very steep and, again, as a result, there's still an active wildfire up there as a result of this crash."
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The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the incident, with the NTSB leading the probe, the FAA spokesperson said.
“Our hearts and prayers go to the families, loved ones, friends, and colleagues of those who have lost their lives in this tragic incident,” the county said, asking for “the public to respect the privacy of the families during this difficult time and to avoid the area so emergency personnel and investigators can safely continue their work.”
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