A Douglas DC-4 crashed near Fairbanks, Alaska, on April 23, 2024, killing both pilots. The aircraft, operated by Alaska Air Fuel, was carrying fuel and propane when it went down shortly after takeoff. A crew member’s final transmission — “Tell them I love them, ma’am” — struck a deep emotional chord. The NTSB has since confirmed the cause: a combination of improper maintenance, a known fuel leak, and an incorrectly installed engine fitting. These issues triggered an in-flight fire, explosion, an