4 killed after medical transport plane crashes while heading to Arizona hospital to retrieve patient
The Beechcraft 300, a small dual-propeller medical transport plane, plummeted to the ground near the Chinle Airport around noon and was soon engulfed in flames, according to the Navajo Police Department.
3 The medical transport plane burst into flames after it crashed.
Navajo Police Dept.
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All four people on board were killed, cops confirmed. None of them were from the area.
The plane was heading to a local hospital to pick up a patient when it crashed. It was operated by CSI Aviation, an air carrier specializing in medical flight services that has previously held contracts with the US Department of Defense and serviced high-ranking members of the United Nations.
The Chinle Airport is just five miles away from a small federal healthcare facility that services Navajo Nation, a Native American reservation, though it's unclear if that is where the crew was heading.
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3 All four people aboard the plane were killed in the crash.
Navajo Police Dept.
'These were people who dedicated their lives to saving others, and their loss is felt deeply across the Navajo Nation,' Buu Nygren, the Navajo Nation president, wrote in a statement.
'We honor their service, their sacrifice, and the love they showed our communities through their work. On behalf of the Navajo Nation, I extend my deepest condolences to their families, colleagues, and all who are grieving. Our prayers are with the families of those on the plane as investigations continue. May the Creator bring comfort and strength in the days ahead.'
3 None of the victims were locals.
Navajo Police Dept.
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The Navajo Nation is the largest American Indian reservation in the country and spans roughly 16 million acres — making it roughly the same size as West Virginia, according to the Indian Health Service.
The National Traffic Safety Bureau and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash. The cause is still unknown.
The Post reached out to CSI Aviation for comment.
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