A vintage military plane, tasked with delivering heating oil to a remote Alaska Native village, crashed outside Fairbanks after one of the pilots reported a fire onboard. Both pilots tragically lost their lives in the crash, which resulted in debris scattered across a wide area.
The aircraft, a C54D-DC airplane, departed Fairbanks with a cargo of 3,200 gallons of heating oil bound for the village of Kobuk. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot communicated an in-flight emergency, indicating a fire onboard. Despite attempts to return to Fairbanks International Airport, contact was lost with the aircraft.
The crash occurred approximately 7 miles outside Fairbanks, where the plane collided with a steep hill before sliding down to the bank of the Tanana River and igniting in flames. Recovery efforts have been hindered by difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions, with no survivors found at the crash site.
Eyewitnesses described hearing explosions and witnessing the aircraft engulfed in flames before plummeting to the ground. Video footage captured the moment one of the plane’s engines exploded, leading to the tragic crash.
The vintage aircraft, dating back approximately 80 years, has a storied history of military service and civilian ownership. Owned by Alaska Air Fuel at the time of the crash, the plane’s wreckage will undergo investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board to determine the cause of the incident.
The crash serves as a reminder of the challenges faced in delivering essential supplies to remote Alaskan communities and the inherent risks associated with air transportation in the region.