Firefighters Seriously Injured in AK Plane Crash

Emergency firefighters were among four people seriously injured when an Alaska Division of Forestry plane crashed shortly after takeoff Thursday.

The accident happened at around 4 p.m. as the plane was trying to get airborne leaving Aniak, a village in western Alaska, the Division of Forestry stated in an online post. All four people onboard, including the pilot, worked for the Division of Forestry, which also owned the aircraft.

"The plane, an Aero Commander 500 Shrike, was transporting emergency firefighters from two western Alaska villages to Soldotna to support initial attack responses for the Kenai/Kodiak Area Forestry station," the agency stated.

Wildland firefighters had been battling a blaze that started when a motor home near Soldotna caught fire Thursday, according to the agency. The fire was contained shortly after 6:30 p.m.

Following the crash, the four were airlifted to Anchorage with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. From there, three of the employees were airlifted to Alaska Native Medical Center, and the fourth was taken to Providence Alaska Medical Center.

Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board in Alaska, told the Anchorage Daily News that the agency was investigating the crash, working alongside Alaska State Troopers and the Division of Forestry.