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Officials have released the names of the four people killed when a medevac flight crashed into the Capitan Mountains early Thursday.

Generation Jets pilots Keelan Clark and Ali Kawsara and Trans Aero MedEvac flight nurses Sarah Clark and Jamie Novick were traveling from Roswell to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, northwest of Ruidoso, on a medical transport when the Beechcraft King Air 90 went down, according to a joint statement from their employers.

The crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. A wildfire that subsequently sparked had burned over 2,600 acres as of Saturday evening, with evacuations being ordered for areas north of the blaze.

A spokesperson for Trans Aero said some of the crew members were from New Mexico, while others lived out of state. The spokesperson declined to give further details.

鈥淭hose we lost were more than coworkers. They were family, caregivers, aviators, teammates, and friends who dedicated their lives to serving others with compassion, professionalism, and courage,鈥� according to the statement from Trans Aero Medevac and Generation Jets.

On Saturday, the Lincoln County Sheriff鈥檚 Office escorted the bodies of the four to the Office of the Medical Investigator in sa国际传媒官网网页入口. Law enforcement blocked traffic and occupied bridges and shoulders along the route to pay respects.

Dozens took to social media to mourn the crew.

Sarah Clark, who listed her hometown as Alamogordo, was remembered as an animal lover and 鈥減henomenal nurse鈥� by coworkers who worked with her at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell. 

鈥淪he knew her role, carried her responsibilities with confidence, and served with skill, courage, and compassion,鈥� a former colleague wrote on Facebook. 鈥淚n the emergency department and in flight nursing, she brought calm to chaos and excellence to every patient encounter.鈥�

In 2024, Clark was awarded Excellence in Practice by the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence. The award singled out a case in which Clark assisted a trauma patient in becoming an organ donor while in the emergency department.

The post said Clark 鈥渧olunteered to provide the care needed to ensure that the patient's wishes were honored鈥� 鈥� his heart went to Tennessee and his kidneys went to patients in New Mexico, while further collected tissue had the potential to save 75 lives.

Another colleague posted about how much Clark wanted to take to the skies.

鈥淵ou loved helping people and loved the thrill of flight nursing. I remember you would light up when you talked about become a flight nurse so I know you passed doing something you truly loved,鈥� the post read. 鈥淢y heart breaks for your family. We know you鈥檙e in heaven. Rest easy my friend.鈥�

In a GoFundMe post, Novick was described as a mother of two who lived in Colorado and spent her career caring 鈥渇or patients and families during some of the most critical moments of their lives.鈥� 

鈥淪he was known for her compassion, strength, quick thinking, and unwavering dedication,鈥� according to the post. 鈥淓mergency medicine was not simply Jamie鈥檚 job 鈥� it was her calling.鈥�

In a Facebook post, her husband described Novick as 鈥渕y beautiful bride, my best friend, my other half, my partner in crime.鈥�

Keelan Clark鈥檚 mother posted to Facebook 鈥渢he most magnificent human being left this earth today.鈥� She said he was a precious son with a mischievous spirit.

鈥淗e was quick to laugh and always had that smirky face,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淗e was as close to a real-life superhero as any human could be鈥� I鈥檓 thankful for the moments and proud to be his Momma.鈥�

Kawsara鈥檚 father, Sabah Kawsara, spoke of his son鈥檚 passing during a service at Al-Hedaya Academy in Texas, in a video posted to YouTube. The father put his hand to his heart, his face wincing with emotion.

鈥淚 am pleased with him, I am so pleased with him,鈥� he said. Sabah Kawsara told a story of how his son insisted they ride together to see a relative May 8. He said, 鈥淚 think he just wanted to spend 20 minutes with me.鈥�

鈥淲e spoke so much. It was a joyous ride,鈥� he said. When his son left for work Tuesday, Kawsara said he told him 鈥淏e safe, goodbye, Ali.鈥� 

As others sobbed in the background, the father spoke of being ready for the moment when death comes. He said Ali Kawsara鈥檚 death 鈥渋s a reminder for us.鈥�

鈥淲hat are we doing for that moment? What are we doing for that day, when that day comes to us? Are we going to cry to Allah to give us another chance? Or are we going to be ready?鈥� Sabah Kawsara said.