Authorities have confirmed that a Bering Air Caravan flight carrying 10 passengers has gone missing in Alaska. On Thursday, a plane traveling from Unalakleet to Nome was reported overdue at approximately 4 p.m. local time, according to a statement from the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS).
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According to a statement, the aircraft carried nine passengers and one pilot. David Olson, Bering Air’s Director of Operations, confirmed that the plane departed from Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m., as reported by local outlet KTUU.
Search Underway for Flight That Disappeared in Alaska
“We are currently responding to a report of a missing Bering Air caravan,” the Nome Volunteer Fire Department explained in a post on Facebook.
“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,” they continued.
“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,” the department added.
“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,” the post also detailed.
The department also reported that the plane’s pilot informed Anchorage Air Traffic Control of his intention to enter a holding pattern until the runway was cleared. Meanwhile, a C-130 Coast Guard plane was scheduled to survey the area.
“The aircraft was 12 miles offshore transiting from Unalakleet to Nome when its position was lost,” the U.S. Coast Guard Alaska added on X.
Fire Chief Hopes the Flight is Safely on Land
White Mountain Fire Chief Jack Adams informed KTUU’s Alaska’s News Source that the aircraft vanished from radar while traveling along the coastline between Nome and Topkok. He added that authorities are focusing their search on an estimated 30-mile stretch of this area.
“They’re prepared to be out all night, they will search here until they find them or somebody else finds them,” the chief told the outlet. “If they don’t find anything, we’ll probably rally another crew to go and help.”
“We’re hoping [the plane] is on land, being in the water would be the worst-case scenario,” Chief Adams added.