UPDATE: Passengers have been identified.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday morning announced that there were no survivors in a plane crash which occurred Thursday in a remote section of the Bighorn National Forest.
Sheriff Rod Odenbach said a private airplane which was carrying two people departed Thursday at noon from the Powell Municipal Airport and was to arrive at the Johnson County Airport never reached its destination.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Office was notified of a fire near the Middle Fork of the Rock Creek in Bighorn National Forest and located wreckage from an airplane crash, which is believed to have started the fire.
“District resources have successfully hiked into the fire and their suppression efforts are being aided by a load of smokejumpers out of West Yellowstone and the Wyoming State Helicopter,” the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported.
Agency personnel were able to reach the crash site, examined the wreckage, and said there were no survivors and the remains were “unidentifiable.”
A team as sent to investigate the crash and to retrieve the remains early Saturday morning, Sheriff Odenbach said.
“Because of the time, remote location, an active fire in that area, hazardous conditions and access to the area would most likely be on foot, it was decided that a team would be sent early the following morning,” he said.
Members of the sheriff’s office, Johnson County Search and Rescue and the U.S. Forest Service arrived at the crash site at 9:30am on Saturday and also reported there were no identifiable markings on the plane and there were no survivors.
The remains of the victims were transported from the crash site to the Johnson County Coroner’s Office for identification.
Calls to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service were not returned on Sunday.
