Video shows WWII-era Douglas DC-4 crash in Alaska, killing 2

A Douglas DC-4 crashed after takeoff in Fairbanks, Alaska and burst into flames, killing the two people on board. Alaska State Troopers put out a statement, confirming that at 10:03 a.m. on Tuesday, a report of a plane crash about seven miles from the Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) was received. Video shows one of the engines explosion, followed by the plane entering a steep left bank and falling out of view, bursting into flames on the bank of a river. Chief of the NTSB's Alaska regional office, Clint Johnson, told AP News that it is unclear what happened between takeoff and the crash but the tower operator witnessed a large plume of smoke. "At this point right now, we don't know where the airplane was headed to," Johnson said to Alaska Public Media. "We're assuming that there was a load of fuel onboard. We don't know that for sure, but there was a significant post-crash fire." Aviation Safety Network reported that the ADS-B data showed the plane climbing to about 1,500 feet before entering a descending left turn towards the river. The owner of the Rosie Creek Farm across the river told Alaska Public Media that he saw the plane go down Tuesday morning, hearing an explosion from the farm and looking out the window. "And right over the farm field, there was a four-engine plane - one of the engines was on fire," Emers said to Alaska Public Media. "Probably 10 seconds later, there was a big explosion that rocked the ground. And then explosions happened after that." Emers told Alaska Public Media that there was a large flame at the base of the hill and debris from the bottom of the hill to the top. The WWII-era plane was operated by Alaska Air Fuel on a Part 91 fuel transport flight, according to ABC News. The DC-4 entered into service in February 1942 and was used through WWII and in the Korean War. Very few remain in service as of 2024, with two passenger DC-4s operating in South Africa and one in Florida on standby for oil pollution control, most are retired and on display in a museum or airport, memorial or airport.