A small aircraft that disappeared while en route to Nome, western Alaska, was found crashed on sea ice, authorities confirmed on Friday. Tragically, all 10 people aboard lost their lives in the incident.
US Coast Guard spokesperson Mike Salerno reported that rescue teams, searching the aircraft’s last known location by helicopter, spotted the wreckage and deployed rescue swimmers to investigate.
Details of the Flight and Disappearance
The ill-fated flight was operated by Bering Air, a single-engine turboprop Cessna Caravan, which departed from Unalakleet on Thursday afternoon carrying nine passengers and a pilot. Officials lost contact with the aircraft less than an hour after takeoff. The plane was last detected approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Nome and was later found 12 miles (19 kilometers) offshore.
Radar forensic data from the US Civil Air Patrol suggested the plane experienced a sudden and rapid loss of altitude and speed around 3:18 p.m. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin McIntyre-Coble stated that no distress signals were received from the aircraft’s emergency locator transmitter, which is designed to activate upon contact with seawater.
Weather Conditions and Search Efforts
At the time of the disappearance, light snow and fog were reported in the area, with temperatures around 17 degrees Fahrenheit (-8.3°C), according to the National Weather Service. Search teams, comprising local, state, and federal agencies, scoured the ice-covered waters and tundra for signs of the missing aircraft.
Alaska’s Aviation Challenges and Community Response
Due to Alaska’s limited road infrastructure, small aircraft play a vital role in transportation, particularly in remote regions. However, winter weather poses significant risks, including sudden snow squalls and high winds.
Following the tragic discovery, Alaska’s US senators, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, expressed their condolences to the victims’ families and the Nome community. Representative Nick Begich also extended support to the affected families and pledged assistance to Governor Mike Dunleavy.
Third Aviation Tragedy in Eight Days
This crash marks the third major US aviation disaster in just over a week. On January 29, a commercial jetliner collided with an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., killing 67 people. Just two days later, on January 31, a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia, claiming seven lives.
Bering Air’s Role in Rural Alaska
Bering Air, which serves 32 remote Alaskan villages from hubs in Nome, Kotzebue, and Unalakleet, provides crucial commuter services, often making multiple daily trips. Flight tracking data showed Bering Air aircraft conducting grid-pattern searches along the coastline before the wreckage was located.
The city of Nome announced that prayer vigils would be held for the victims, their loved ones, and those involved in the search efforts.
