A Cessna plane carrying nine passengers and a pilot has gone missing during a flight in Alaska. The aircraft, operated by Bering Air, was en route from Unalakleet to Nome, both cities in western Alaska. The Alaska State Troopers were notified of the missing plane at 4 p.m. Thursday.
The Nome Volunteer Fire Department is actively conducting ground searches from Nome and White Mountain, while the US Coast Guard and US Air Force have joined the search efforts. Poor weather conditions have limited air searches, with light snow and freezing drizzle reported around Nome Airport.
The plane, identified as a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, was last seen over the Norton Sound before its position was lost about 12 miles offshore. The Coast Guard is working to locate the aircraft, with specialized equipment for search and rescue operations in low visibility conditions.
Local hospitals are prepared for any medical emergencies, and a family center has been set up for the passengers' loved ones. Sen. Dan Sullivan expressed thoughts and prayers for those on board and the rescue crew.
The search for the missing plane occurs amid ongoing air safety investigations following recent deadly incidents, including a midair collision near Washington, DC, and a medevac jet crash in Philadelphia.
