Missing Alaska Plane Found with All Ten Aboard Dead
The aircraft was found approximately 34 miles southeast of Nome, a remote region that underscored the difficulties of the search and rescue effort.
In a heartbreaking discovery, the US Coast Guard has located the wreckage of a regional single-engine airline flight that vanished over Alaska on Thursday. Tragically, all ten passengers, including the pilot, were confirmed dead on Friday. The aircraft was found approximately 34 miles southeast of Nome, a remote region that underscored the difficulties of the search and rescue effort.
Upon reaching the site, USCG rescue swimmers made the grim discovery of three bodies within the plane. The seven remaining casualties are presumed to be trapped inside the severely damaged wreckage, as reported by Lt. Commander Mike Salerno in a statement to CNN. The authorities are working meticulously to retrieve and identify all individuals aboard.
Timeline and Details of the Incident
1. Tragic Outcome Confirmed: The US Coast Guard has expressed profound condolences following the confirmation that all nine passengers, along with the pilot, did not survive the crash. “Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragic incident,” the USCG stated.
2. Flight History: David Olson, the director of operations for Bering Air, disclosed that the ill-fated aircraft departed Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. on Thursday. Data from flight radars indicate the aircraft underwent a sudden and critical “event” roughly 41 minutes into the flight, resulting in a rapid decline in altitude and velocity.
3. Last Known Coordinates: The last tracked position of the plane was approximately 12 miles offshore before disappearing from radar. This prompted an extensive search operation involving the Coast Guard, National Guard, FBI, and US Air Force.
4. Current Recovery Efforts: Boosted by the support of the Nome Volunteer Fire Department, search teams have been vigilantly combing the coastline and conducting aerial scans over the ice-laden sea. Benjamin McIntyre-Coble of the US Coast Guard District 17 mentioned the discovery of an “item of interest,” although further details remain undisclosed pending investigation.
As investigations continue, questions linger about the exact cause of the crash and what led to the catastrophic loss of life. For now, the focus remains on recovering the remaining bodies and beginning a thorough inquiry to ensure the safety of future flights in Alaska’s notoriously challenging flying conditions.
