ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A search operation is underway for a missing aircraft that vanished while transporting ten individuals across Norton Sound in Alaska, situated south of the Arctic Circle.
The Bering Air Caravan was en route from Unalakleet to Nome on Thursday afternoon, carrying nine passengers along with a pilot, as reported by Alaska’s Department of Public Safety. Efforts are currently focused on establishing the plane’s last known location.
Unalakleet, a small community with a population of approximately 690, is positioned about 150 miles (240 kilometers) southeast of Nome and roughly 395 miles (640 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage.
This incident marks the third significant aviation event in the U.S. within just eight days. Previously, a collision between a commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C. resulted in 67 fatalities on January 29. Additionally, a medical transport plane crash in Philadelphia on January 31 claimed the lives of six individuals aboard and one on the ground.
The Cessna Caravan departed from Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m., and officials lost communication with the aircraft less than an hour later, according to David Olson, Bering Air’s operations director. The plane was reportedly 12 miles (19 kilometers) offshore when last tracked, based on information from the U.S. Coast Guard.
“Team members at Bering Air are diligently gathering information, organizing emergency responses, and initiating search and rescue efforts,” stated Olson.
Bering Air provides service to 32 villages in western Alaska with hubs in Nome, Kotzebue, and Unalakleet, operating scheduled flights to most destinations twice a day from Monday to Saturday. For many in rural Alaska, especially during winter months, flying is often the only feasible way to travel substantial distances.
The Nome Volunteer Fire Department issued a statement on social media detailing that ground crews are conducting searches along the coastline from Nome to Topkok. However, they noted that inclement weather and limited visibility have restricted aerial searches. Residents have been advised against initiating personal search parties due to the dangerous conditions.
In a recent update, the volunteer fire department confirmed that “crews continue to search on land, covering as much area as possible.” Unfortunately, no new information regarding the aircraft’s whereabouts has emerged. A U.S. Coast Guard airplane was expected to fly over the last known position of the missing plane, and the National Guard alongside state troopers are assisting in the search efforts.
At the time of takeoff, temperatures in Unalakleet hovered around 17 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 8.3 degrees Celsius), with light snowfall and fog reported in the area.
The identities of those aboard the aircraft have not been released as authorities continue their search efforts.
Nome, a historic Gold Rush town located just below the Arctic Circle, is recognized as the final destination of the 1,000-mile (1,610-kilometer) Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
