JUNEAU, Alaska — Authorities have confirmed the recovery of the remains of all ten individuals who perished when their small aircraft crashed into the icy waters of the Bering Sea. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department announced this development on their Facebook page on Saturday afternoon, explaining that recovery teams were working quickly to retrieve the bodies before an impending winter storm was forecasted to approach the area.
“All ten individuals aboard the Bering Air plane have been officially brought home,” the fire department stated in a post around 3 p.m. Recovery efforts for the aircraft are still ongoing, according to the department.
The single-engine turboprop plane was en route from Unalakleet to Nome when it vanished from radar on Thursday afternoon. A thorough search led to the discovery of the wreckage the following day, with all nine passengers and the pilot confirmed dead, marking it as one of Alaska’s deadliest aviation disasters in the past 25 years.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chair Jennifer Homendy informed the media that the plane is situated on an ice floe drifting approximately five miles (8 kilometers) daily, which complicates recovery operations. “Please know that we’ll work diligently to determine how this happened with the ultimate goal of improving safety in Alaska and across the United States,” she asserted during a press briefing.
As the community grapples with this grave incident, crews contend with treacherous conditions from unstable, slushy sea ice to recover both remains and wreckage. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory, predicting snow and winds reaching 45 miles per hour (72 kilometers per hour) beginning Saturday night and extending into Sunday evening.
Among the deceased were Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson, who had traveled to Unalakleet to work on a crucial heat recovery system for the water treatment facility, per information from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. David Beveridge, vice president of environmental health and engineering for the consortium, expressed deep sorrow, stating, “The loss of these two incredible individuals and everyone else on board the plane will be felt all over Alaska.” The pilot, Chad Antill, 34, also lost his life in this tragic accident, with other victims aged between 30 to 58 years.
This flight was part of a regularly scheduled commuter service, as confirmed by Lt. Ben Endres of the Alaska State Troopers. Images released by the Coast Guard displayed the aircraft’s shattered remains and debris scattered across the sea ice, with two emergency responders examining the scene.
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski shared her grief regarding the tragedy during a news conference later that evening. Nome Mayor John Handeland expressed emotional distress while discussing the event and community response, stating, “Nome is a strong community, and in challenging times we come together and support each other. I expect the outpouring of support to continue in the coming days as we all work to recover from this tragic incident.”
The Cessna Caravan departed Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. Thursday, and officials reported losing contact with it less than an hour later, amidst light snow and fog, with temperatures around 17 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 8.3 degrees Celsius). The Coast Guard indicated that the aircraft disappeared nearly 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Nome.
Radar data from the U.S. Civil Air Patrol suggested that around 3:18 p.m., the plane experienced a sudden drop in altitude and speed, though details about the cause of this anomaly remain unclear. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin McIntyre-Coble noted there were no distress signals from the plane, which typically carries an emergency locator device that could send an alert to authorities if it came into contact with water, but no such signals were received.
Rescue efforts were underway searching for the craft’s last known position by helicopter when the wreckage was discovered, according to U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Mike Salerno. The NTSB has dispatched a team of nine experts to the crash site from various states to assist with the investigation.
In Alaska, small airplanes are crucial for connecting the vast, remote regions due to limited ground infrastructure, making travel by air commonplace. This tragic crash marks the third significant aviation accident in the United States in just over a week, following a catastrophic incident involving a commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter that resulted in 67 fatalities, as well as a medical transport plane crash that killed all six occupants and an additional individual on the ground.
Bering Air operates flights to 32 villages across western Alaska from hub sites in Nome, Kotzebue, and Unalakleet, with most locations serviced twice daily, except for Sundays.
In a heartfelt statement on their website, Bering Air expressed profound sadness: “Our hearts are heavy with grief as we process this heartbreaking news. At this time, our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy.” The airline has established a hotline for updates and emotional support for the families of those onboard, while requesting privacy during this difficult time and pledging to cooperate fully with authorities.
Unalakleet, a small community of around 690 residents, lies about 150 miles (240 kilometers) southeast of Nome and 395 miles (640 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage. The village is traversed by the historic Iditarod trail, which sled dog racers navigate during the world-renowned event. Nome, a historic Gold Rush town situated just below the Arctic Circle, is recognized as the endpoint of the 1,000-mile (1,610-kilometer) Iditarod race. The city has planned prayer vigils for Friday to honor those on board the plane and to support their friends and family, as well as those engaged in recovery efforts.
