Eight killed in plane crash at remote Alaskan military site, air force says

The civilian-contracted aircraft crashed shortly after midday local time (20:00 GMT) on Thursday near Cape Newenham, which hosts the airport of a long-range radar site.

It is unclear who the passengers were or why they were there, but the US Air Force Alaskan Command chief said they had been "dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment".

"This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve," Lt Gen Robert Davis added.

"Our absolute priority right now is providing unwavering support to their families, friends and teammates during this devastating time," he said in a statement.

"We are profoundly grateful for the swift and tireless response of our search and recovery professionals."