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NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Four people have died after a medical transport aircraft crashed in the mountainous area in New Mexico’s Lincoln County on Thursday morning, sparking a blaze that firefighters are still working to put out.
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“It is with profound sorrow that Trans Aero MedEvac confirms the loss of four members of our team following the crash of our fixed-wing aircraft in New Mexico early this morning. Our hearts are with the families, loved ones, coworkers, and the first responders continuing operations at the scene during this incredibly difficult time,” a social media statement from Trans Aero MedEvac read.
County Manager Jason Burns announced that the King Air plane took off from Roswell for transport and was headed to the Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, south of Capitan Mountain, when it crashed. All four people on board died.
Officials did not immediately release the identities of the victims.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families, loved ones, friends, and colleagues of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident,” Burns said.
New Mexico State Police is investigating the cause of the crash, which remains unknown at this time, Burns said.
Trans Aero MedEvac said it is fully cooperating with the investigation, adding, “Safety has always been at the core of our mission and operations. Our focus right now remains on caring for our people, supporting the investigation, and honoring the lives of those we lost.”
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The fire associated with the crash is under five acres, and the U.S. Forest Service is working with fire crews to extinguish it.
“It’s very rugged, very steep, and still there’s an active wildfire up there as a result of this plane crash. So first things first, it’s gotta be safe for everybody to get in there,” Lincoln County Sheriff Michael Wood said in a Facebook video.
Wood called the incident a tragedy, saying, “This is a devastating loss, this one hits closer to home than just geographics.”
Several law enforcement and first responder agencies from Lincoln County, Ruidoso, as well as the Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, are on scene.
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This is a developing story.