NEWS
Small medical plane crashes near Capitan Mountains, killing all 4 people aboard
Aircraft was traveling from Roswell to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport for a medical transport
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LINCOLN COUNTY 鈥� Four people died Thursday morning in a medical plane crash in the Capitan Mountain area of Lincoln County, authorities say.
County officials said the aircraft was traveling from Roswell to the Sierra Blanca Regional Airport 鈥� roughly 15 miles from Ruidoso 鈥� for a medical transport and did not arrive as scheduled.
The cause of the crash is unknown and remains under investigation. Authorities will not release the names of the four who died until their families have been notified.
Airport personnel and the Lincoln County Office of Emergency Services were alerted after radar and communications contact was lost, according to a county news release.
Shortly after, the county recieved multiple reports of a fire in the Capitan Mountain area.
Rescuers responded to a fire in the wilderness area after confirmed reports of a missing airplane en route to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, the release states. The fire is currently less than five acres.
鈥淎t this time, Lincoln County emergency personnel, fire departments, law enforcement, and supporting agencies are actively responding and working to access the reported fire location to assess the situation and determine whether the incidents are related,鈥� the county said earlier Thursday.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have been contacted and New Mexico State Search and Rescue has coordinated the search effort, the release states.
The safety of the public and responding personnel remains the county鈥檚 top priority, the release states.
鈥淲e ask the public to avoid the area and allow emergency responders to conduct operations safely and efficiently,鈥� according to the county. 鈥淎dditional information will be released as it becomes available and confirmed through official channels.鈥�
Lincoln County will continue coordinating through the Office of Emergency Services and partner agencies as the situation develops.
This story will be updated.
Gregory R.C. Hasman covers the economy and healthcare for the Journal. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com.
