A small commuter flight heading to Nome, a hub in western Alaska, crashed on sea ice and was found on Friday. Tragically, all 10 people on board were confirmed dead.
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According to U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Mike Salerno, per the Associated Press, rescuers were conducting an aerial search of the aircraft’s last known location when they discovered the wreckage. Two rescue swimmers were deployed from the helicopter to assess the site.
A Coast Guard photo captured the shattered remains of the plane scattered across the sea ice, its debris strewn across the frozen landscape. Two people in brightly colored emergency gear are seen inspecting the wreckage.
The cause of the incident remains 'unknown' after the plane and passengers were found dead.#Bering_Air_Flight #Nome #Alaska #Missing #Plane #Crash
— GeoTechWar (@geotechwar) February 8, 2025
Authorities previously said Bering Air Flight 455 suffered “some kind of event” that caused it to “rapidly lose altitude and… https://t.co/2NQufBt2Ik pic.twitter.com/Q1JF65qS50
“It’s hard to accept the reality of our loss,” U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski admitted during a press conference, per AP.
“Nome is a strong community, and in challenging times we come together and support each other. I expect the outpouring of support to continue in the coming days as we all work to recover from this tragic incident,” Nome Mayor John Handeland said, choking up.
The Search for the Missing Alaska Flight Had Already Shifted to a Recovery Effort
The focus had already shifted toward a recovery effort due to rapidly deteriorating conditions. Officials pointed out several challenges, including worsening weather expected in the next 18 hours and the presence of unstable, slushy “young ice.”
“They are on the ice as we speak,” Jim West, chief of the Nome Volunteer Fire Department explained. “The conditions out there are dynamic, and so we’ve got to do it safely and the fastest way we can.”
A Bering Air single-engine turboprop plane departed from Unalakleet on Thursday afternoon, carrying nine passengers and a pilot. According to the airline’s specifications, the plane was operating at full passenger capacity.
The Cessna Caravan departed from Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. However, less than an hour later, communication was lost, according to David Olson, Bering Air’s director of operations. Weather conditions at the time included light snow, fog, and a temperature of 17°F.
The Coast Guard reported that the aircraft disappeared approximately 30 miles southeast of Nome.
The plane carried 10 adults and was part of a scheduled commuter flight.
The plane crash is the third major U.S. aviation disaster in eight days. On January 29, a commercial jet collided with an Army helicopter near the capital, killing 67. Two days later, on January 31, a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia, killing all six onboard and one on the ground.