Four killed in medical aircraft crash near Capitan; crews working to extinguish fire

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) –Four people have died, and a fire ignited after a medical transport aircraft crashed in the Capitan Mountain area in Lincoln County on Thursday morning. County Manager Jason Burns announced that the King Air plane took off from Roswell for transport and was headed to the Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, south of Capitan, when it crashed. All four people on board died. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the families, loved ones, friends, and colleagues of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident," Burns said. The plane has been located, and the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have been notified. Officials are not releasing the identities of the victims at this time. New Mexico State Search and Rescue has coordinated a search effort, and New Mexico State Police is investigating the cause of the crash, which remains unknown at this time, Burns said. The fire associated with the crash is under 5 acres, and the U.S. Forest Service is working with fire crews to extinguish it. "It's very rugged, very steep, and still there's an active wildfire up there as a result of this plane crash. So first things first, it's gotta be safe for everybody to get in there," Lincoln County Sheriff Michael Wood said in a Facebook video. Wood called the incident a tragedy, saying, "This is a devastating loss, this one hits closer to home than just geographics." Several law enforcement and first responder agencies from Lincoln County, Ruidoso, and the Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management are on scene. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Watch the full press conference by Lincoln County below: