Air Force officer among those killed in Alaska plane crash

A U.S. Air Force officer and two Army Corps of Engineers civilians were among eight people killed in a plane crash in Western Alaska last week. 2nd Lt. Leah R. Borsich, 23, was a project programmer in the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, located in Anchorage, Alaska, according to a Monday base release . Borsich was among eight people killed Aug. 20 when a civilian-contracted aircraft crashed at Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, roughly 450 miles west-southwest of Anchorage. “Lt. Borsich was a positive leader who brought tremendous energy and enthusiasm to our command,” Col. Timothey Meerstein, commander of Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, said in the release. “She led with professionalism, compassion and purpose, and her presence strengthened the bonds between the people around her. She made a lasting impact on our team, and we are grateful for her service and commitment to our nation.” With support from an HC-130J Combat King II, an Alaska Air National Guard HH-60W Jolly Green II landed near the crash site, and personnel from the 212th Rescue Squadron, housed at Elmendorf-Richardson, confirmed there were no survivors of the crash, a Thursday release says. The flight, which was chartered by the Army Corps of Engineers and operated by Security Aviation, crashed with eight personnel on board, resulting in the death of two pilots and six passengers. Two Army Corps of Engineers employees from the Alaska District were also kil…