Tragic Plane Crash in Western Alaska Claims 10 Lives
A small commuter plane carrying 10 people crashed in western Alaska, resulting in the deaths of all on board, authorities confirmed. The Bering Air Caravan, a single-engine turboprop, was en route from Unalakleet to Nome on Thursday afternoon when it disappeared approximately 12 miles offshore. The wreckage was later found about 34 miles southeast of Nome, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The aircraft, a Cessna 208B, had nine passengers and one pilot on board. The passengers included employees of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, who were traveling to service a critical community water plant. The pilot, Chad Antill, 34, of Nome, and the passengers were identified by the Alaska State Troopers after their bodies were recovered from the wreckage.
Search and rescue efforts were hampered by challenging weather conditions, including fog, light snow, and freezing drizzle. The Alaska National Guard and Coast Guard deployed multiple aircraft, including helicopters and C-130 planes, to locate the missing plane. The wreckage was discovered on an ice floe moving at a rate of 5 miles per day, complicating recovery efforts.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. Preliminary data suggests the plane experienced a rapid loss of altitude and speed around 3:18 p.m. local time, but the exact cause remains unclear. The incident marks the third major aviation accident in the U.S. in just over a week, following a midair collision near Washington, D.C., and a medical transport plane crash in Philadelphia.
Bering Air, which operates scheduled flights to 32 communities in western Alaska, expressed its condolences and is cooperating with authorities. The crash has deeply affected the tight-knit communities of Unalakleet and Nome, where air travel is often the only means of transportation, especially during winter months. A multi-faith prayer vigil was held in Nome to honor the victims and support their families.
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