Missing Alaska plane found crashed on sea ice, all 10 aboard dead

By FE Online, Feb 8: A small commuter plane crashed in western Alaska while en route to Nome, killing all 10 people on board, authorities confirmed.

The wreckage of the Bering Air single-engine turboprop was found on sea ice on Friday, a day after it went missing.

The US Coast Guard located the aircraft while searching the area by helicopter and deployed rescue swimmers to investigate the crash site.

The Cessna Caravan took off from Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. on Thursday with nine passengers and a pilot. The aircraft lost contact less than an hour into its journey. At the time of the incident, the region experienced light snow, fog, and temperatures of 17°F (-8.3°C). The plane disappeared approximately 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Nome and was found about 12 miles (19 km) offshore.

Radar forensic data provided by the US Civil Air Patrol indicated that at 3:18 p.m., the aircraft suffered a sudden and rapid loss of elevation and speed. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin McIntyre-Coble stated that the exact cause remains unknown, and no distress signals were received. Emergency locating transmitters, designed to activate upon seawater exposure, failed to send a distress message.

Search and Rescue Efforts

Multiple agencies, including local, state, and federal authorities, participated in the search. Aircraft from Bering Air were seen conducting grid pattern searches along the coastline, while the Coast Guard combed ice-dotted waters and tundra in an attempt to locate survivors.

This incident marks the third major aviation mishap in the US within eight days. On January 29, a collision between a commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., killed 67 people. On January 31, a medical transportation plane crashed in Philadelphia, resulting in seven fatalities.

Due to the lack of road connectivity in many Alaskan communities, aeroplanes are often the only viable mode of transportation, particularly in winter. Bering Air operates regular flights across 32 remote villages, including Unalakleet and Nome, where air travel is essential for supplies and mobility.

Nome, known for its Gold Rush history and as the finish line of the Iditarod sledge dog race, held prayer vigils for the victims, their families, and rescue teams. US Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, along with Representative Nick Begich, expressed condolences and offered support to those affected by the tragedy.

(Financial Express with AP inputs)