Smoke rises after a small medical plane crashed in a mountain range outside Ruidoso, New Mexico, on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP)A small medical aircraft crashed in the Capitan Mountains outside Ruidoso, New Mexico, before dawn on Thursday, killing all four people aboard the plane and starting a wildfire in the surrounding forest, news agency AP reported.The fire spread to 35 acres by midday amid dry, windy conditions. Lincoln County Manager Jason Burns said officials were “very concerned” about the blaze, with local agencies coordinating with the US Forest Service to contain it.What we knowThe plane, operated by Trans Aero MedEvac, was on a medical transportation mission when it lost radar contact and communications. It had departed from Roswell Air Center and was headed to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.The wreckage was located Thursday morning in steep, rocky terrain that required rescue crews to hike the final half-mile to reach the site. The victims were flight crew and medical personnel; their identities have not been released yet.A Pattern of Medical Flight TragediesThursday’s crash adds to a troubling record. Over the past 25 years, 25 fatal crashes of medical planes have killed nearly 70 people in the United States, according to NTSB records, AP reported.Recent incidents include:January 2025 — A medical jet crashed into a Philadelphia neighbourhood, killing eight people.August 2024 — Four people died when a plane crashed on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona.Story continues below this adDecember 2024 — A Mexican Navy plane carrying a young patient and seven others crashed off the Texas coast in the Gulf of Mexico.In 2007, five people were killed when a medical plane crashed in Lincoln National Forest shortly after leaving Ruidoso.Are medical flights more dangerous?Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti, a former crash investigator for the NTSB and FAA, told AP that medical flights are not inherently more dangerous than others because they operate between airports like any other aircraft.Medical helicopter flights, however, carry greater risk because they often land on roads or improvised sites near accident scenes. A study of air medical accidents over a 20-year period ending in 2020 found that more than 70 per cent of fatalities occurred on helicopters, as per the AP report.The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:plane crash