5 Dead After Ambulance Plane Crashes In Nevada

Nevada authorities confirmed the deaths of five people killed in a medical transport airplane crash in Stagecoach, Nevada.

A pilot, a flight nurse, a flight paramedic, a patient, and the patient’s relative were among those that died Friday.

Lyon County Sheriff’s Office responded to multiple calls regarding the crash at around 9:15 p.m. During a news release later that evening, they confirmed it was a fixed-wing aircraft operated by Reno-based air ambulance company Care Flight that crashed, PEOPLE reported.

“We are heartbroken to report that we have now received confirmation from Central Lyon County Fire Department that none of the five people onboard survived,” Care Flight announced in a statement, adding that the aircraft went off radar at around 9:45 p.m.

“The five people on board were a pilot, a flight nurse, a flight paramedic, a patient, and a patient’s family member,” the statement continued. “We are in the process of notifying their family members.”

Officials have not determined the cause of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board has sent out a Nevada team to investigate the crash and plans to provide an update Sunday.

As part of its safety protocol, Care Flight, a service of Guardian Flight and REMSA Health, issued a “passive stand down” on all company flights following the tragic crash.

The sheriff’s office said officers were able to locate the crash site two hours after it was reported and arrived on the scene with Central Lyon County Fire and other fire rescue units from Lyon and Douglas counties.