Medical Plane Crashes in New Mexico Killing All On Board

Four people are dead after a medical transport plane crashed into a remote mountain area of New Mexico before sunrise Thursday, sparking a fiery scene that left investigators scrambling for answers.

The twin-engine Beechcraft King Air 90 was flying a medical mission when it went down near the village of Ruidoso around 4 a.m., according to federal officials. The aircraft had taken off from Roswell Air Center and was headed toward Sierra Blanca Regional Airport when disaster struck.

Officials confirmed that everyone on board was killed in the crash.

“All four individuals have been confirmed deceased at the scene,” Lincoln County Manager Jason Burns said during a heartbreaking news conference.

The aircraft belonged to Trans Aero MedEvac, a company that provides emergency medical flights across the region. In a statement, the company said the victims were members of its own team.

“Our hearts are with the families, loved ones, friends, and coworkers of those lost in this tragedy,” the company said.

The crash unfolded in a heavily wooded and rugged section of the Capitan Mountains, making rescue and recovery efforts difficult. Authorities said emergency crews responded to both the wreckage and a fire that erupted after the aircraft slammed into the terrain.

Flight tracking data showed the plane disappearing from radar as it approached the mountainous area in darkness.

The cause of the deadly crash remains unknown, but the incident is expected to raise fresh concerns about the dangers faced by emergency medical flight crews, who often fly in difficult weather and overnight conditions to transport critically ill patients.

Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are now leading the investigation. Officials are expected to examine weather conditions, mechanical issues, and the aircraft’s final moments before impact.

The identities of the victims have not yet been publicly released.