Four people were killed on Tuesday when a medical transport plane crashed and caught fire near Chinle Municipal Airport on the Navajo Nation, tribal officials confirmed.
The aircraft, a Beechcraft 300 operated by CSI Aviation of Albuquerque, New Mexico, went down around 12:40 pm while attempting to land.
According to the Navajo Police Department, the crew was en route to pick up a patient from a local hospital.
All on board were medical personnel and described as “non-local," Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said in a statement.
Emergency responders from the Navajo Police Department’s Chinle District, along with the tribe’s fire and rescue services, arrived at the crash site shortly after the incident.
“This was a heartbreaking event," Nygren said in a statement.
“These were people who dedicated their lives to saving others, and their loss is felt deeply across the Navajo Nation. We honor their service, their sacrifice, and the love they showed our communities through their work. On behalf of the Navajo Nation, I extend my deepest condolences to their families, colleagues, and all who are grieving."
The cause of the crash remains under investigation as both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are examining the incident.
CSI Aviation is assisting with the investigation and has notified the victims’ families, according to law enforcement.
Source: News18