CHINLE, Ariz. — A devastating crash involving a medical transport plane claimed the lives of four people Tuesday afternoon on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona, near the Chinle Airport.
The aircraft, a Beechcraft 300 operated by CSI Aviation out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was en route to Chinle Hospital to pick up a patient when it crashed and caught fire while attempting to land. The flight was carrying medical personnel, all of whom tragically lost their lives in the incident.
Authorities have not released the identities of the victims pending notification of families. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials, the plane went down during its approach to the airport. District Police Commander Emmett Yazzie confirmed that the crew had been planning to retrieve a patient from Chinle Hospital. He declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing federal investigation.
The Navajo Nation, in an official statement, said the cause of the crash is not yet known. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA have launched a full investigation into the incident.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren expressed his sorrow in a statement on social media:
“These were people who dedicated their lives to saving others, and their loss is felt deeply across the Navajo Nation. Our hearts are broken.”
This tragedy comes just months after another fatal medical flight crash in January in Philadelphia that killed eight people. In that case, the cockpit voice recorder was found to be inoperable, highlighting the critical importance of safety systems on such missions.
As the community mourns the lives lost, flags have been lowered, and tributes continue to pour in for the brave medical professionals who died in service of others.
Leave a Reply