Wreckage of missing commuter Alaska plane found with no survivors, Coast Guard says
The U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska made a somber announcement on Friday afternoon, revealing that they had located the wreckage of the missing Nome-bound plane that had disappeared after takeoff with 10 individuals on board the previous day. The Coast Guard shared in a post on X that three deceased individuals were found inside the aircraft, which was situated on sea ice approximately 34 miles southeast of Nome.
According to USCG Alaska, it is believed that the remaining seven individuals are also inside the plane but are currently inaccessible due to the condition of the aircraft. “Our heartfelt condolences are with those affected by this tragic incident,” the Coast Guard expressed in their statement. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Mike Salerno confirmed to the Anchorage Daily News that there were no survivors of the crash.
The commuter flight, operated by Bering Air, was en route from Unalakleet to Nome in western Alaska when it lost its position about 12 miles offshore, as reported by the Coast Guard. Data from FlightRadar indicated that the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX was last reported at 3:16 p.m. local time on Thursday over Norton Sound.
Despite aerial searches conducted by C-130 Hercules planes from the National Guard and Air Force yielding no sightings earlier, officials announced during a news conference on Friday that an “item of interest” had been discovered related to the search efforts. Subsequently, a Coast Guard rescue crew arrived at the crash site and deployed two rescue swimmers to investigate further, as per The Associated Press.
During the news conference, the Coast Guard disclosed that data showed a rapid loss in elevation and speed for the aircraft at 3:18 p.m. on Thursday. All 10 individuals aboard the turboprop plane, comprising nine passengers and one pilot, were adults, and the flight was part of a regular schedule, stated Lt. Ben Endres of the Alaska State Troopers.
Following the discovery of the wreckage, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy took to X to express his condolences, urging people to “say a prayer tonight for the 10 souls who lost their lives on the Bering Air flight in Alaska.” He also mentioned that he had reached out to Alaska Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski to offer the Department of Transportation’s full support.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy echoed similar sentiments on X, conveying that he and his wife, Rose Dunleavy, were “heartbroken by the loss of the 10 individuals on the Bering Air flight.” He extended gratitude to the search teams for their tireless efforts in locating the aircraft and called on all Alaskans to keep those affected in their thoughts and prayers.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is providing an investigator from the Aviation Safety Office of Accident and Prevention to assist with the ongoing investigation. The tragic incident has deeply impacted the community, and efforts are being made to support the families, friends, and communities affected by the loss.
