A Bering Air Cessna Caravan carrying ten people vanished while flying from Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska.
The flight was supposed to land at 4 p.m. on Thursday, but it never arrived. Now, search teams are battling brutal conditions as they widen the hunt to the open waters of Norton Sound.
The plane’s last known position was recorded 38 minutes into the flight, flying over Norton Sound. When it failed to land in Nome, emergency teams quickly launched a search.
At first, they focused on land, hoping for an emergency landing. But with no sign of the aircraft, efforts have now turned to the open waters.
The U.S. Coast Guard is using aircraft and boats to scan the area while ground teams from Nome and White Mountain search the coastline. Ice and rough waters are making things difficult, but officials are monitoring currents, hoping to locate any debris or wreckage.
Weather conditions are a major challenge. Low visibility, freezing temperatures, and dangerous ice movement have slowed efforts. Authorities are also warning locals not to attempt their own searches, as the conditions are too risky.
This is the third major U.S. aviation incident in just over a week, adding to growing concerns about flight safety.
So far, authorities have not released the identities of the pilot or passengers. Right now, the priority is locating the missing plane and everyone onboard. As of today, the aircraft remains “overdue” and the search is still underway.
