A plane carrying two people crashed into the Tanana River near Fairbanks, Alaska, on Tuesday, April 23, with no survivors found, authorities confirmed. The C-54 Skymaster aircraft took off from Fairbanks International Airport in the morning and crashed approximately 7 miles from the airport, sliding into a steep hill on the river’s bank and catching fire, according to Alaska State Troopers.
The circumstances leading to the crash remain under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska regional office, but the tower operator reported witnessing a large plume of smoke.
The C-54 Skymaster, a military version of the Douglas DC-4, was originally designed as a commercial aircraft but faced financial challenges during the Depression era. Despite its initial setback, the C-54 has a significant historical background in aviation.
The owner of Rosie Creek Farm southwest of Fairbanks, Mike Emers, reported hearing the sound of the plane exploding and witnessing one of its engines on fire as it flew over his property. He immediately alerted authorities and rushed towards the rising dark smoke at the crash site.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and further details are expected to be released as they become available.
