Small aircraft with 10 people onboard vanishes while flying over Alaska
A plane carrying 10 people has disappeared while traveling over Alaska and the US Coast Guard and Air Force are searching for survivors.
Yesterday (February 6) an aircraft - operated by Bering Air - took off from Unalakleet at 2:37pm headed to Nome in western Alaska, however, just before 4pm local time it was reported missing.
Alaska's Department of Public Safety states nine passengers and one pilot were on board the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan on Bering Air Flight 445 and a search mission has since been launched.
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Bering Air’s director of operations, David Olson said, as quoted by The Independent, the plane is believed to have been around 12 miles offshore flying over Norton South when it lost contact with officials.
The plane lost contact with those down on the ground after less than an hour into the air and its radio reportedly cut out just 10 minutes before it was due at its destination.
The National Weather Service reports it was minus 8.3C in Unalakleet around take-off and there was light snow falling and fog.
Late last night, the Nome Volunteer Fire Department said: "The plane’s exact location is still unknown. We continue to expand search efforts to as many avenues as possible until the plane is located."
Officials are working to determine the plane's exact last-known coordinates.
As staff at Bering Air are 'working hard to gather details' Olson said 'emergency assistance, search and rescue' has also been rolled out with the Nome Volunteer Fire Department taking to Facebook to issue updates.
In its first post about the incident, the Nome Volunteer Fire Department confirmed it was 'currently responding to a report of a missing Bering Air caravan'.
It stated: "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. National Guard and Coast Guard and Troopers have been notified and are active in the search. Norton Sound Health Corporation is standing by.
"We ask the public to please think of those who may be missing at this time, but due to weather and safety concerns please do not form individual search parties. Families are encouraged to seek support at Norton Sound Health Corporation. More information will be posted as it is confirmed and comes available."
An update notes Flight Service reported the pilot of the plane 'told Anchorage Air Traffic Control that he intended to enter a holding pattern while waiting for the runway to be cleared'. The department noted the search was being 'expanded' and later revealed a Coast Guard plane had been sent to 'scope' the area.
As of earlier today (February 7), the department stated it has no updates on the location of the aircraft with the National Guard C-130 also reporting 'nothing found so far' however crews are 'still searching on the ground canvassing as much area as possible'.
Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan said in a post to Facebook: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, their families and the rescue crew."
The names of the people onboard have not yet been released.
UNILAD has contacted Bering Air for comment.
Poppy Bilderbeck