A medical transport plane that failed to arrive at its destination in southern New Mexico early on Thursday crashed in the Capitan Mountains, killing all four people on board and igniting a wildfire in rugged terrain near Ruidoso.
Authorities said additional reports later came in regarding both the missing plane and a fire burning in the Capitan Mountain area. Emergency response protocols were activated immediately, and multiple agencies were dispatched to locate the aircraft and reach the scene.
Officials said the crash sparked a wildfire in the surrounding forest. Lincoln County initially estimated the fire to be less than five acres, while Burns later said the blaze had expanded to roughly 35 acres by midday amid dry and windy conditions.
The U.S. Forest Service coordinated suppression efforts alongside local fire departments, law enforcement agencies, emergency management crews, and New Mexico State Search and Rescue.
The county said the aircraft carried four “souls” on board, all of whom were pronounced dead at the scene. Burns said the victims were members of the flight crew and medical personnel. Their identities have not yet been released pending family notification.
Sheriff Wood said emergency crews were continuing to manage dangerous conditions around the crash site as investigators worked in the mountainous area.
“There's still an active wildfire up there on that mountain,” Wood said in the Facebook video update. “It's very rugged, very steep and, again, as a result, there's still an active wildfire up there as a result of this crash.”
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash, with the NTSB leading the investigation. County officials also expressed condolences to the victims’ families and asked the public to avoid the area while emergency personnel continue operations.