The U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska has located the wreckage of a small passenger plane that crashed into frozen sea ice, killing all 10 people on board. The aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan operated by Bering Air, went missing on Thursday while en route from Unalakleet to Nome.
The wreckage was found 34 miles (55 km) southeast of Nome, on the icy waters of the Norton Sound, part of the Bering Sea. Two Coast Guard rescue swimmers who reached the site confirmed seeing three bodies inside, while the remaining seven passengers were presumed to be trapped within the wreckage.
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“Unfortunately, it does not appear to be a survivable crash,” said Coast Guard spokesperson Mike Salerno during a press conference. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that all 10 passengers had perished.
Sudden Altitude Drop Before Crash
Officials stated that the aircraft suffered a rapid loss of altitude and speed shortly before disappearing from radar. Coast Guard officer Benjamin McIntyre-Coble noted that weather conditions were poor in the area at the time of the crash, but the exact cause remains unknown.
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan was on a routine 150-mile (241 km) commuter flight between the two Alaskan towns when it went down about 12 miles (19 km) offshore. Radar data suggests a sudden and sharp descent before the crash.
Harsh Weather Slows Recovery Efforts
Severe winter weather has hindered recovery efforts, and officials say it may take days to retrieve all the bodies due to the plane’s location on remote frozen sea ice. Nome’s volunteer fire department, along with the Alaska Air National Guard, is assisting in the operation. “The Nome Search and Rescue Team is spooling up with assistance from the Alaska Air National Guard with recovery efforts,” the fire department said in a statement.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy expressed condolences, saying he and his wife were “heartbroken” over the loss. “Our prayers are with the families, friends, and communities mourning this tragedy,” he posted on social media.
Ongoing Aviation Safety Concerns
The crash comes amid increased scrutiny of aviation safety in the U.S. In the past week alone, two other deadly air disasters have made headlines. On January 30, a midair collision between a passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C., claimed 67 lives. Just days earlier, a medical jet crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood, killing seven people and injuring 19 others. NTSB officials have launched an investigation into the Alaska crash to determine whether mechanical failure, weather conditions, or pilot error played a role.
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The tight-knit communities of Nome and Unalakleet are devastated by the tragedy. Authorities have notified the families of the victims, but no names have been released. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski also acknowledged the impact of the disaster. “Alaska is a big small town. When tragedy strikes, we’re never far removed from the Alaskans directly impacted. But that also means we come together as a community to grieve and heal,” she said.