US missing plane found crashed on sea ice in Alaska, all 10 aboard dead
The missing Bering Air commuter plane with 10 people onboard has been found crashed on sea ice near Alaska's western coast according to official reports released Friday.
US missing plane found crashed on sea ice in Alaska, all 10 aboard dead
AP reported that all nine passengers and the pilot died in the Alaska plane crash.
During Friday's aerial search mission near its recorded final position the United States Coast Guard found the Cessna Caravan situated 12 miles from shore and 30 miles southeast of Nome.
Two rescue swimmers went to the wreckage site according to the AP report.
Radar data from the US Civil Air Patrol indicated the aircraft experienced a rapid loss of altitude and speed around 3: The aircraft lost altitude and speed rapidly at 3:18 pm (local time) Thursday according to radar data yet the cause remains unidentified by officials.
Lt Cmdr Benjamin McIntyre-Coble of the US Coast Guard investigation that the radar data indicates a rapid descent but the cause remains unidentified.
According to Bering Air's fleet specifications the single-engine turboprop Cessna Caravan held all of its passengers during the flight. The flight, which departed Unalakleet at 2: This flight originated in Unalakleet at 2:37 pm as part of a routine commuter service.
The National Weather Service documented light snow and fog at the incident site while temperatures stood at 17°F (-8.3°C). Small aircraft face serious challenges due to the frequent winter snow squalls and high winds that occur in Western Alaska.
Local, state, and federal agencies led search operations while Bering Air aircraft supported the search efforts with grid-pattern flights along the coastline.
The historic Gold Rush town of Nome which serves as the Iditarod sledge dog race's final stop now faces a tragic ordeal. Organizers announced prayer vigils to pay tribute to the victims and their families as well as the first responders who took part in the search.
US Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Nome Alaska together with Representative Nick Begich delivered their sympathies. US Representative Nick Begich announced his readiness to support Governor Mike Dunleavy in aiding Nome and families impacted by the tragedy through a social media post.
The Cessna Caravan crash constitutes the third substantial aviation emergency in the United States within an eight-day period. On January 29 near Washington, DC a commercial jetliner collided with an Army helicopter resulting in the deaths of 67 people. A medical transport sea ice crash on January 31 in Philadelphia resulting in six passenger fatalities and one ground casualty.
