The U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska said Friday afternoon it had located the wreckage of the Nome-bound plane that went missing after takeoff with 10 people on board Thursday.
In a post on X, the Coast Guard also reported that three deceased individuals were found inside the plane, which was located on sea ice about 34 miles southeast of Nome.
“The remaining 7 people are believed to be inside the aircraft but are currently inaccessible due to the condition of the plane,” USCG Alaska posted. “Our heartfelt condolences are with those affected by this tragic incident.”
Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Mike Salerno told the Anchorage Daily News it’s clear there were no survivors of the crash.
USCG has located an aircraft matching the description of the missing plane. (X/@USCGAlaska)
The commuter flight, operated by Bering Air, was traveling from Unalakleet to Nome in western Alaska, when its position was lost about 12 miles offshore, according to the Coast Guard.
Data from FlightRadar shows the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX last reporting at 3:16 p.m. local time Thursday over Norton Sound.
Earlier, officials said aerial searches carried out by C-130 Hercules planes from the National Guard and Air Force resulted in “no sightings.”
The flight, operated by Bering Air, was traveling from Unalakleet to Nome in western Alaska, when its position was lost about 12 miles offshore, according to the Coast Guard. Data from FlightRadar shows the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX last reporting at 3:16 p.m. over Norton Sound. (Fox News)
In a news conference Friday, officials said an “item of interest” had been found related to the search.
Later, a Coast Guard rescue crew arrived at the wreckage site and lowered two rescue swimmers to investigate, The Associated Press reported.
BLACK HAWK CREW LIKELY WEARING NIGHT-VISION GOGGLES BEFORE DEADLY DC MIDAIR CRASH, NTSB SAYS
The city of Nome, Alaska, awaits the first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race musher Tuesday, March 14, 2023. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
During the news conference, the Coast Guard said that data showed a “rapid loss in elevation and rapid loss in speed” for the aircraft at 3:18 p.m. Thursday.
All 10 people aboard the turboprop plane — nine passengers and a pilot — were adults, and it was a regularly scheduled flight, Lt. Ben Endres of the Alaska State Troopers said Friday.
“Say a prayer tonight for the 10 souls who lost their lives on the Bering Air flight in Alaska,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on X after the wreckage was found.
He said he had spoken to Alaska Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski to offer the Department of Transportation’s full support.
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“The @FAANews is providing an investigator from the Aviation Safety Office of Accident and Prevention,” he added.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy wrote on X that his a his wife, Rose Dunleavy, were “heartbroken by the loss of the 10 people on the Bering Air flight. Our prayers are with the families, friends, and communities mourning this tragedy. We are grateful to the search teams who worked tirelessly to locate the aircraft. I ask all Alaskans to keep those affected in their thoughts and prayers.”
Fox News’ Greg Norman, Christina Shaw and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
