Tragic Plane Crash in Alaska; Three Dead, Seven Missing
A small plane operated by Bering Air, carrying nine passengers and a pilot, went missing on Thursday afternoon during a flight from Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that the wreckage of the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan was found on sea ice 34 miles southeast of Nome. Tragically, three individuals were confirmed dead, and seven others are believed to be inside the aircraft but remain inaccessible due to the plane’s condition.
The plane lost radio contact approximately 38 minutes after departing Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. local time. Radar data indicated that the aircraft experienced a “rapid loss of elevation and speed” around 3:18 p.m., shortly before it was scheduled to land in Nome. The pilot had reportedly informed air traffic control that he intended to enter a holding pattern while waiting for the runway to be cleared. Weather conditions at the time included light snow, freezing drizzle, and mist, which may have contributed to the incident.
Search and rescue efforts involved multiple agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, National Guard, U.S. Air Force, and the Nome Volunteer Fire Department. The FBI also assisted by using cellphone tracking data to aid in locating the plane. The identities of those on board have not been released, but their families have been notified.
Bering Air, a regional air service based in Nome, operates passenger and cargo flights to remote communities in northwestern Alaska. The incident has drawn national attention amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. air safety following recent aviation accidents. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.
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The plane operated by Bering Air was carrying nine passengers and a pilot from Unalakleet to Nome in northwestern Alaska when it went missing, officia
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A plane has gone missing in Alaska with 10 people on board, authorities have confirmed.
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