A crashed aircraft with three deceased individuals inside was discovered in Alaska on Friday during the search for a missing Bering Air flight that vanished with 10 people on board, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The wreckage was located approximately 34 miles southeast of Nome, officials said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
“Three individuals were found inside and reported to be deceased. Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragic incident,” the Coast Guard said.
The Bering Air Cessna Caravan, carrying nine passengers and one pilot, departed Unalakleet on Thursday afternoon, heading west toward Nome, a journey of about 140 miles.
The aircraft took off at 2:37 p.m. local time, according to Bering Air Director of Operations David Olson. However, radar analysis indicated that at approximately 3:18 p.m., the plane experienced a “rapid loss in elevation and speed” before disappearing from tracking systems, Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin McIntyre-Coble said at a press briefing Friday.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy expressed sorrow over the incident, stating that he and his wife, Rose, were “heartbroken by the disappearance of the Bering Air flight over Norton Sound.”
“Our prayers are with the passengers, the pilot, and their loved ones during this difficult time,” Dunleavy said in a statement.
Nome and Unalakleet, both located in western Alaska, are not connected by the state’s highway system, making air travel a primary mode of transportation in the region. The area’s remote nature adds to the difficulty of search and rescue operations.
Authorities have not yet released details on the cause of the crash or the status of the remaining passengers. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to launch an investigation into the incident.
Bering Air has yet to issue an official statement regarding the crash, as rescue crews continue to assess the situation.
This is a developing story. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.
