A devastating plane crash off the coast of Alaska has claimed the lives of all 10 people on board. The Cessna Grand Caravan, operated by Bering Air, went down in Norton Sound, approximately 34 miles (55km) southeast of Nome, on Thursday. Among the deceased were nine passengers and the pilot.
The flight, which was traveling from Unalakleet to Nome, lost radar contact before crashing into an ice floe. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the accident, but officials say it is too early to determine the cause.
Jennifer Homendy, chair of the NTSB, confirmed that nine investigators have been dispatched to the scene, supported by specialists in Washington, D.C. During a news conference in Anchorage, she extended her deepest condolences to the families of those lost in the tragedy.
Recovery efforts have been complicated by adverse weather conditions. The wreckage landed on an ice floe that is moving at a rate of five miles per day, posing additional challenges for authorities attempting to retrieve the victims and assess the crash site.
Among the passengers were Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson, employees of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. They had traveled to Unalakleet to perform maintenance work on a water plant, the nonprofit organization confirmed.
Alaska State Troopers received an alert about the overdue aircraft at approximately 4:00 PM local time on Thursday. The Nome volunteer fire department later reported that the pilot had informed air traffic controllers of his intention to enter a holding pattern while awaiting runway clearance. Shortly after, the US Coast Guard reported a rapid loss in altitude and speed before all contact was lost.
Video footage from the time of the crash shows low visibility in the area, further complicating investigative efforts. Officials have not ruled out weather conditions as a potential factor in the disaster.
In the wake of the crash, Alaskan officials have shared their condolences. Senator Lisa Murkowski acknowledged the deep impact of the tragedy on the tight-knit Alaskan community, stating, “Alaska is a big small town. When tragedy strikes, we’re never far removed from those affected.”
Governor Mike Dunleavy also expressed his sorrow, saying he was “heartbroken” by the loss. “Our prayers are with the passengers, the pilot, and their loved ones during this difficult time,” he said.
Bering Air has pledged full cooperation with the ongoing investigation while mourning the loss of those aboard. Authorities continue their search and recovery efforts, prioritizing victim retrieval and securing critical evidence to determine what led to the crash.
