All eight people aboard a civilian-contracted charter flight were killed when their plane crashed near a remote military radar installation in western Alaska on Thursday, federal and military officials confirmed.

The aircraft, a twin-engine Cessna 441 operated by Security Aviation, crashed around 12:15 p.m. local time on approach to the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, located approximately 450 miles west of Anchorage. Two pilots and six passengers were on board.

The flight originated in Anchorage and was carrying out a contract mission for the military facility, which is operated by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center to monitor regional airspace.

“This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis, commander of Alaskan Command. “These individuals were dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment.”

Search and recovery operations were initiated immediately following the crash by the U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska National Guard, and local emergency response teams. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have launched a joint investigation to determine the cause of the incident.