(MENAFN) A small medical transport aircraft went down and ignited in flames Tuesday afternoon on the Navajo Nation in Arizona, resulting in the deaths of all four occupants.

According to the Navajo Police Department, the dual-propeller plane crashed around 12:40 p.m. local time (1940 GMT) near Chinle Airport, where the blaze immediately followed the impact. The information was released via an official statement on the department’s Facebook page.

At the time of the accident, the aircraft was en route to retrieve a patient from a nearby hospital. Authorities confirmed that all four victims were medical personnel who were not from the local area.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren expressed his sorrow on the social media platform X, stating, "These were people who dedicated their lives to saving others, and their loss is felt deeply across the Navajo Nation."

The Navajo Police Department also highlighted the impact of the tragedy, saying, "This is a tragic loss to the families of those onboard and to the medical air and first responder community." Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.

The Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the U.S., spans parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.

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