Local News
Victims Identified in Fatal Plane Crash Near Nanwalek on Kenai Peninsula
Alaska State Troopers have confirmed that a small commercial aircraft crash on Monday afternoon on the Kenai Peninsula claimed the lives of the pilot and a passenger, while a second passenger remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
The aircraft, operated by Homer-based Smokey Bay Air, was on a scheduled flight from Homer to the remote village of Nanwalek when it crashed during its landing attempt.
The incident occurred shortly before 2:00 p.m. on April 28, 2025, near the Nanwalek Airport.
On Tuesday, troopers identified the pilot as 48-year-old Daniel Bunker of Homer.
One of the passengers, 37-year-old Jenny Miller of Anchorage, was also pronounced dead at the scene.
A second male passenger, who has not yet been publicly identified, sustained critical injuries and was medevaced to an Anchorage hospital for emergency treatment.
The Alaska State Troopers reported that multiple 911 calls alerted authorities to the crash. Local first responders and volunteers were the first to arrive and began administering aid to the three occupants aboard the plane.
A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator accompanied troopers to the crash site to begin the official investigation.
According to NTSB Alaska Chief Clint Johnson, the crash occurred during the landing phase at Nanwalek Airport—a notoriously difficult airstrip due to its curved gravel runway, with only approximately 850 feet of usable landing surface.
Nanwalek, located at the mouth of Cook Inlet, is home to about 200 residents and relies heavily on small aircraft for access to and from the community.
The coordinated emergency response included assistance from Guardian Flight, LifeMed Alaska, Maritime Helicopters, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Alaska State Park rangers.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Further details will be released as the NTSB continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
SABINE PASS, Texas — Three construction workers lost their lives and two others sustained injuries following a scaffolding collapse early Tuesday morning at the Port Arthur LNG construction site in Sabine Pass.
Officials have identified the deceased workers as Reggie McGee, Felix Lopez and Felipe Mendez.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:00 a.m. on April 29 at the large-scale industrial site operated by Bechtel, the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for the project.
Sempra Infrastructure, one of the developers behind the LNG facility, confirmed the incident in a statement and noted that an immediate work stoppage was implemented across the site.
According to Bechtel, the collapse involved a “tank jump form system” at elevation.
The failure led to multiple workers falling, with two pronounced dead at the scene.
A third worker, a 41-year-old man from Houston, suffered cardiac arrest and later died at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, according to Jefferson County Precinct One Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr.
Two additional workers were injured in the collapse but have since been treated and released from the hospital, Sempra Infrastructure confirmed.
Captain Crystal Holmes of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office stated that a failure within the scaffolding system caused the workers to fall.
She confirmed that only three individuals fell to the ground. It remains unclear whether the workers were wearing fall protection gear at the time of the incident.
A visual assessment of the site from Texas Highway 82 revealed a concrete tank surrounded by three levels of scaffolding.
A section estimated to be between 8 to 12 feet in length from each level appeared to have detached and now hangs at a 45-degree angle.
Nearby, a rigging strap remains loosely affixed to the hook block of a tower crane, swaying in the wind—a detail investigators are examining for its possible role in the collapse.
Authorities are exploring whether a falling load may have struck the scaffolding or if the incident stemmed from a rigging or structural failure.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a formal investigation, which will include a comprehensive review of the equipment, site procedures, and any potential violations. The results will be released upon completion of the investigation.
Bechtel and Sempra Infrastructure have both issued statements expressing condolences to the families of the victims and affirming their commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all personnel. “We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident,” said a Bechtel spokesperson. “Our thoughts are with the families and our colleagues who have been affected.”
“All work at the site was immediately halted, and craft professionals were sent home to be with their families during this difficult time,” Bechtel added. Sempra echoed that work will remain suspended while the incident is under investigation.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation in coordination with Bechtel and relevant regulatory agencies. Captain Holmes noted that the investigative process would be “slow and methodical” to ensure all factors contributing to the collapse are fully understood.
Port Arthur LNG is a joint venture between Sempra Infrastructure and ConocoPhillips.
Construction at the site has been ongoing for several years as part of a broader effort to expand U.S. liquefied natural gas export capacity.
Bechtel emphasized that their top priority remains supporting the impacted families and ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to understand the cause of the incident and prevent future tragedies.