05/15/2026
A truly sad day for aviation in New Mexico. Our hearts go out to the families and all affected by this tragic loss.
🚨BREAKING: All four people aboard a small medical plane were killed when the aircraft crashed near Ruidoso, New Mexico, on Thursday morning, according to Lincoln County officials.
The aircraft, a Beechcraft King Air, had departed from Roswell Air Center and was headed to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport on a medical transport mission. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the route, and Lincoln County officials identified the aircraft as a King Air. It never arrived as scheduled.
The plane was operated by Trans Aero MedEvac. In a statement, the company said the aircraft was reported overdue after communications and radar contact were lost. The four people on board were flight crew and medical personnel. Their names have not yet been released.
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said it received reports of a fire in the Capitan Mountain area, where the aircraft was located. All four on board were pronounced dead at the scene.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to the families, loved ones, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident," Lincoln County Manager Jason Burns said at a news conference.
The crash sparked a wildfire that crews are still working to contain. Conditions in the area were hot, dry, and windy, with a red flag warning in effect for high fire risk. Early estimates of the fire's size ranged from under 5 acres to about 30 acres as the day went on.
The cause of the crash is not yet known. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
We will update as more information becomes available.