Air Force officer who died in Alaska plane crash remembered as ‘positive leader’

A 23-year-old Air Force officer killed alongside seven others in a charter plane crash in remote western Alaska last week is being remembered as a “positive leader” who served with “professionalism, compassion and purpose.”

The Air Force identified 2nd Lt. Leah R. Borsich on Monday as one of the victims of the Aug. 20 crash near the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, about 450 miles west-southwest of Anchorage. Borsich was a project programmer with the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

“Lt. Borsich was a positive leader who brought tremendous energy and enthusiasm to our command,” Col. Timothy Meerstein, commander of the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, said in a statement.

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“She led with professionalism, compassion and purpose, and her presence strengthened the bonds between the people around her,” Meerstein said. “She made a lasting impact on our team, and we are grateful for her service and commitment to our nation.”

The Cessna 441 was carrying two pilots and six passengers when it crashed west of Cape Newenham at about 12:15 p.m. Thursday. All eight people aboard were killed.

The charter plane had taken off from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and was headed to Cape Newenham when it crashed during its second approach to the gravel runway in heavy fog, according to federal officials.

The pilots could not see the runway and were flying by instruments, Clint Johnson, the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska region chief, said Friday. They aborted their first landing attempt because of poor visibility before crashing on the second approach.

An observation system near the airport reported fog and visibility of about 10 miles shortly before the crash. About 15 minutes later, visibility had fallen to less than a quarter-mile, according to the National Weather Service.

Search teams later found fragmented wreckage from the twin-engine plane, also known as a Cessna Conquest.

The Air Force said an Army member, contractors and crew members with Anchorage-based airplane charter company Security Aviation were also among those killed.

“We also mourn the loss of our Army and contractor teammates and extend our deepest appreciation to the Security Aviation aircrew, whose professionalism and dedication are vital to our mission,” Meerstein said. “Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.”

Security Aviation, which operated the flight, said it was “heartbroken” by the crash.

“Our hearts go out to the families, friends and loved ones of those who were lost,” the company said in a statement posted to Facebook. “We extend our deepest condolences to them and to everyone affected by this devastating tragedy.”

Security Aviation thanked the military, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center and search-and-recovery teams that responded after the crash. The company said it is cooperating with the investigation and would not speculate about the cause.

“Our focus at this time is on those who are grieving and on supporting our employees and others affected by this tremendous loss,” the company said.

In addition to the pilots, those aboard included two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees and four contractors. Two of the contractors worked for Calista Brice, which provides construction, engineering, logistics and other services in remote areas.

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The Army Corps said its employees were part of a “project delivery team en route to a project site in support of the U.S. Air Force.” Officials have not said what work the group was traveling to perform.

Cape Newenham is part of a network of remote radar sites that monitors aircraft operating in Alaska’s airspace and along its borders. The site, built in the 1950s as part of an early-warning network against a potential Soviet attack, now monitors the skies off Alaska’s coast in the direction of Russia, North Korea and China.

Borsich’s name was released after her family had been notified. The Alaska State Troopers will release the names of the victims who were not affiliated with the Department of War, the Air Force said.

Lt. Gen. Robert Davis, who leads Alaskan Command, the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and Eleventh Air Force, previously described those aboard as “dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment.”

“This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve,” Davis said after the crash.

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The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.