Alamogordo NM
5-14-2026 12:58pm

FATAL CRASH: Medical Transport Plane Goes Down in Capitan Mountains, All 4 Aboard Killed

A medical transport plane crashed in the Capitan Mountain area of Lincoln County early Thursday morning, killing all four people on board and sparking a wildfire in the rugged wilderness terrain — a tragedy felt across the region, including here in southern New Mexico.

The Beechcraft King Air 90 aircraft was traveling from Roswell Air Center to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport near Ruidoso in the early morning hours when it lost communications and radar contact and failed to arrive as scheduled. The plane crashed at approximately 4 a.m. local time, the FAA confirmed. 

Airport personnel and the Lincoln County Office of Emergency Services were alerted after radar and communications contact was lost. Shortly after, the county received multiple reports of a fire in the Capitan Mountain area. 

Authorities confirmed all four people on board had died in an update issued just after 10 a.m. !

The victims were identified as flight crew and medical personnel. Their names have not been released pending notification of next of kin. 

Lincoln County Manager Jason Burns addressed the public at a news conference Thursday, offering condolences to those affected. "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.

Wildfire a Growing Concern

The crash ignited an immediate secondary emergency. The blaze associated with the crash had grown to approximately 30 acres, and county officials expressed they were "very concerned" about containing the fire amid dry, windy conditions. The U.S. Forest Service mobilized alongside local agencies to suppress the flames. 

Conditions across southern New Mexico were hot and dry Thursday, with a red flag high fire risk warning issued for the Ruidoso area due to low humidity and wind gusts that could reach 35 mph. Residents in the region are urged to remain vigilant and follow any fire-related advisories issued by local emergency management. 

The Aircraft and the Operator

The plane was operated by Trans Aero MedEvac and had been on a medical transportation mission when it was reported overdue after contact was lost. The company issued a statement asking the community to "continue keeping the families of our crew members, as well as the first responders and personnel actively working this crisis, in your thoughts and prayers.

Several local, state, and federal agencies are now involved in handling the crash, including the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, New Mexico State Search and Rescue, New Mexico State Police, Lincoln County emergency services, fire departments, the sheriff's office, Ruidoso police, and emergency management personnel. 

The FAA and NTSB have opened formal investigations. The cause of the crash remains unknown at this time.

A Painful Reminder for the Region

The crash echoes a devastating 2007 incident in which five people were killed when a medical plane went down in the Devil's Canyon area of Lincoln National Forest shortly after departing Ruidoso Regional Airport bound for Albuquerque. 

A recent study tallied 87 air medical accidents that killed 239 people over a 20-year period ending in 2020, with most involving helicopters and factors such as pilot disorientation, maintenance problems, fatigue, or misjudging weather conditions. 

Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, located approximately 15 miles from Ruidoso, serves as a critical air gateway for the mountain communities of Lincoln County and is a common destination for air medical flights serving the broader region, including Otero County residents.

Alamogordo Town News will continue to follow this story as new information becomes available. Our thoughts are with the families of all four victims.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

— Alamogordo Town News Staff

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