Three of the eight people killed in a plane crash near a remote radar site in western Alaska have been identified as US military personnel and Army Corps of Engineers employees. Second Lieutenant Leah R. Borsich, 23, was identified as one of the victims by US forces in Alaska. Borsich was a project programmer with the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.
Borsich was remembered by Colonel Timothy Meerstein, commander of the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, as a positive leader who brought energy and enthusiasm to the command. He said she led with professionalism, compassion, and purpose and left a lasting impact on those around her.
Sabrina Hansen and Hayden Scalis, both from Anchorage, were also among those killed, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Who Were Sabrina Hansen And Hayden Scalis?
Hansen worked as a fire protection engineer, while Scalis was a mechanical engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers’ Alaska District.
The two were traveling to the remote radar site as part of a routine visit to inspect and maintain a new fire suppression system. The system is designed to help prevent fires from spreading at military bases, aboard ships and in vehicles.
The Army Corps of Engineers chartered the aircraft for the trip. Its chief of engineers and commanding general, Lt. Gen. William “Butch” Graham, described Hansen and Scalis as public servants and professionals dedicated to securing the nation.
The fatal crash occurred Thursday near Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, about 450 miles west of Anchorage on the Bering Sea. The twin-engine turboprop Cessna Conquest was carrying eight people, including two pilots and six passengers.
According to preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board, the aircraft was attempting a second landing in foggy conditions. The pilots were navigating solely by instruments because they could not see the ground. The plane crashed in steep terrain about a quarter of a mile from the runway, leaving highly fragmented wreckage.
The NTSB is investigating the crash. The agency is expected to issue initial findings within three weeks, with a full report on the likely cause expected within the next two years.
The remaining victims who were not affiliated with the Defense Department will be identified by the Alaska State Troopers.