Four people were killed in a plane crash near an Arizona airport after the medical transport aircraft en route to a nearby hospital went down in flames on Tuesday.
The Beechcraft 300, a small dual-propeller medical transport plane, plummeted to the ground near the Chinle Airport around noon and was soon engulfed in flames, according to the Navajo Police Department.
All four people on board were killed, cops confirmed. None of them were from the area.
The plane was heading to a local hospital to pick up a patient when it crashed. It was operated by CSI Aviation, an air carrier specializing in medical flight services that has previously held contracts with the US Department of Defense and serviced high-ranking members of the United Nations.
The Chinle Airport is just five miles away from a small federal healthcare facility that services Navajo Nation, a Native American reservation, though it’s unclear if that is where the crew was heading.
“These were people who dedicated their lives to saving others, and their loss is felt deeply across the Navajo Nation,” Buu Nygren, the Navajo Nation president, wrote in a statement.
“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. Our prayers are with the families of those on the plane as investigations continue. May the Creator bring comfort and strength in the days ahead.”
