All 10 onboard Alaska commuter plane dead after crash on sea ice updated

A small commuter plane with 10 people aboard crashed in western Alaska on its way to Nome, with all passengers and the pilot confirmed dead, authorities announced on February 7.

This crash marks one of the deadliest aviation incidents in the state in the last 25 years, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

The Bering Air single-engine turboprop, a Cessna Caravan, had left Unalakleet on February 6 afternoon with nine passengers and a pilot on board. The plane went off radar less than an hour after departure, and officials lost contact with it around 3 p.m., according to the Alaska Department of Public Safety. The aircraft was operating at full passenger capacity and had been flying in light snow and fog, with temperatures around 17°F (-8.3°C).

Search efforts led by the US Coast Guard quickly located the wreckage about 30 miles southeast of Nome, on a stretch of unstable sea ice. Helicopters were deployed to the area and found the plane’s debris scattered on the ice. Two rescue swimmers were lowered to investigate the site.

A photo from the Coast Guard showed the shattered remains of the plane, with rescue personnel in brightly coloured gear working near the wreckage. The cause of the crash remains unclear, with investigators citing radar data showing the plane had experienced a sudden loss of altitude and speed shortly before going off course. No distress signals were received from the aircraft, and it was confirmed that the plane’s emergency locator transmitter did not send any alerts.

The tragedy left the local community in shock. “It’s hard to accept the reality of our loss,” said U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski in an emotional statement. Nome Mayor John Handeland, fighting back tears, spoke of the community’s grief and unity in the wake of the disaster. “Nome is a strong community, and in challenging times we come together and support each other,” he said, as a prayer service was announced to honor the victims.

The recovery operation is complicated by rapidly changing conditions, with expected bad weather and unstable ice making the operation dangerous. “We’ve got to do it safely and as fast as we can,” said Jim West, Chief of the Nome Volunteer Fire Department.

As investigations continue, the focus has shifted to safely recovering the bodies of those on board and determining what led to the tragic loss of life.

The plane’s crash marks the third major US aviation mishap in eight days. A commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter collided near the nation’s capital on January 29, killing 67 people. A medical transportation plane crashed in Philadelphia on January 31, killing the six people on board and another person on the ground.

9:51 (February 7)

Search and rescue teams are actively searching for a missing Bering Air plane that disappeared on February 6 while flying from Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska. 

According to Alaska State Troopers, the aircraft, carrying nine passengers and a pilot, was reported overdue at 4 p.m. on February 6, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

Authorities are working to determine the plane’s last known coordinates, with search efforts focusing on the route between Nome and White Mountain.

The Nome Volunteer Fire Department confirmed the aircraft's disappearance in a Facebook statement, noting that crews had already searched the coastal area from Nome to Topkok.

“Due to weather and visibility, we are limited on air search at the current time,” the fire department said, urging the public not to conduct independent search efforts for safety reasons.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is monitoring the situation, while the US.Coast Guard and the National Guard have joined state troopers in the search. A Coast Guard C-130 aircraft has been deployed to scan the area and assist ground crews. Additionally, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is providing flight support.

As of February 6 evening, the plane’s location remained unknown. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department revealed that the pilot had contacted air traffic controllers in Anchorage, stating that he planned to enter a holding pattern while waiting for Nome’s runway to be cleared.

By Tamilla Hasanova