In a tragic development amid challenging Arctic conditions, search teams have located the wreckage of a Bering Air plane on sea ice near Nome, Alaska, with three confirmed fatalities. The single-engine Cessna Caravan, carrying ten people, disappeared Thursday afternoon during what should have been a routine 150-mile commuter flight from Unalakleet to Nome.
Search efforts reveal wreckage and casualties
Coast Guard spokesperson Cameron Snell confirmed that three bodies were discovered inside the aircraft, though crews have not yet been able to fully access the wreckage. The plane was found approximately 12 miles offshore, with rescue swimmers being lowered to investigate the site after spotting it from a helicopter.
The aircraft departed Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. Thursday with nine passengers and one pilot. Weather conditions at the time included light snow and fog, with temperatures around 17 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 8.3 Celsius).
Timeline of the incident
According to Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin McIntyre-Coble, radar data from the U.S. Civil Air Patrol indicated a critical event at approximately 3:18 p.m. Thursday. “Some kind of event which caused them to experience a rapid loss in elevation and a rapid loss in speed,” McIntyre-Coble stated, though he declined to speculate on the cause.
Notably, no distress signals were received from the aircraft’s emergency locating transmitter, which typically activates upon contact with seawater.
Impact on regional transportation
The incident highlights the critical role of air travel in Alaska’s rural communities, where planes often serve as the only viable transportation option. Bering Air provides essential services to 32 villages across western Alaska, operating from hubs in Nome, Kotzebue, and Unalakleet.
This accident marks the third major U.S. aviation incident in just eight days, following a collision near Washington D.C. and a medical transportation plane crash in Philadelphia.
The Nome community has organized prayer vigils for those aboard the plane, their families, and search team members. Alaska’s political leaders, including Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, have pledged their support to the affected communities and rescue efforts.
Multiple agencies continue to coordinate search efforts, with the Coast Guard deploying buoys to track sea ice movement and ground crews on snowmobiles searching both coastal and inland areas.
