Authorities Begin Search And Rescue Operation After Plane Goes Missing In Alaska

A plane with 10 people aboard went missing while flying from Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska, on Thursday, sparking a search and rescue operation from state and federal authorities.

The Bering Air Caravan airplane with one pilot and nine passengers left Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. local time, and Alaska State troopers received word around 4:00 p.m. that the plane was overdue in Nome, CBS News reported. The plane appeared to be traveling over the Norton Sound when it potentially encountered near-whiteout fog. FlightRadar data showed a Bering Air Caravan plane last reporting data at 3:16 p.m.

“U.S. Coast Guard District 17 responded to an aircraft emergency notification from Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at 4:30 p.m. today for a Cessna Caravan that reported to have 10 people aboard,” U.S. Coast Guard Alaska said in a statement. “An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Kodiak to search their last known position. The aircraft was 12 miles offshore transiting from Unalakleet to Nome when its position was lost. More information to follow as it becomes available.”

The Cessna Bering Air Caravan is a single-engine propeller plane. Bering Air is based in Nome and operates passenger and charter airline services.

Due to low visibility, the search plane flew over the water and along the shoreline with equipment that could help locate the missing aircraft. Authorities told people not to form their own search parties due to the weather. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department said, “We continue to expand search efforts to as many avenues as possible until the plane is located.”

In an update at 12:30 a.m. local time on Friday, the fire department said the plane was still missing.

“We do not have any updated information on the location of the missing aircraft. Crews are still searching on the ground, canvassing as much area as possible,” the fire department statement added. “The National Guard C-130 reported they found nothing found so far. The Airforce also sent a C-130 resumed the search and also have reported no visuals, and have one hour of flight search time remaining. If nothing further is reported, the next update will be at 9am.”

The incident comes after an Army Black Hawk helicopter with three service members collided with an American Eagle flight that had 64 people on board. The crash sent both aircraft into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people involved. Days later, a medical jet carrying a pediatric patient crashed in north Philadelphia, killing all six people on board and one person on the ground and injuring more than 20 others.