Search Underway for Missing Plane in Rural Alaska
Crews in rural Alaska are actively searching for a plane that went missing on Thursday, carrying 10 people.
The Nome Fire Department, along with the National Guard and Coast Guard, are responding to reports of a missing Bering Air caravan.
According to the US Coast Guard (USCG), the aircraft lost its position while it was 12 miles offshore, transiting from Unalakleet to Nome.
FlightRadar data indicated that the Bering Air flight last reported information at 3:16 p.m. over Norton Sound.
The USCG has deployed an HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Air Station Kodiak to search for the plane’s last known position.
Members of the Nome Fire Department are conducting an active ground search but report that weather conditions have resulted in limited visibility.
A statement from the fire department mentioned, "We are currently doing an active ground search from Nome and from White Mountain and have as much up to date information on the event as possible. Due to weather and visibility, we are limited on air search at the current time."
The statement also urged the public to keep those missing in their thoughts and advised against forming individual search parties due to weather and safety concerns. Families have been encouraged to seek support at Norton Sound Health Corporation.
Norton Sound Health Corporation indicated it is ready to respond to a community medical emergency, though they did not provide additional details.
This incident follows several tragic aviation events in the U.S. last week, including a collision between a military helicopter and a passenger jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and a Learjet 55 medevac jet crash in Philadelphia that resulted in the deaths of at least seven people.
