Eight die in plane crash at remote Alaskan military site, air force says

A plane crash at a remote US Air Force site in Alaska has killed all eight people on board, the US military has said.

The civilian-contracted aircraft crashed shortly after midday local time (20:00 GMT) on Thursday near Cape Newenham, which hosts the airport of a long-range radar site.

It is unclear who the passengers were or why they were there, but the US Air Force Alaskan Command chief said they had been "dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment".

"This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve," Lt Gen Robert Davis added.

"Our absolute priority right now is providing unwavering support to their families, friends and teammates during this devastating time," he said in a statement.

"We are profoundly grateful for the swift and tireless response of our search and recovery professionals."

The plane originally took off from Anchorage International Airport and was bound for Cape Newenham - 450 miles (725 km) to the west by air - the US Air Force Alaskan Command said.

Rescuers who landed near the crash site "confirmed there were no survivors", it added. An investigation is under way and the deceased will be named once their next of kin had been informed.

Clint Johnson, the chief for the National Transportation Safety Board's Alaska region, said there had been two pilots and six passengers on board, CBS News, the BBC's US partner, reported.

The Cape Newenham site on Alaska's south-west coast is part of the Alaska Radar System, a network of remote sites that monitor aircraft approaching or operating in Alaskan airspace.