A small aircraft with 10 people on board has vanished during a flight between two Alaskan cities.
Authorities in Alaska are conducting a search for a small Cessna Caravan aircraft that went missing while flying from Unalakleet to Nome. The plane, carrying 10 individuals, including nine passengers and a pilot, was reported overdue on Thursday afternoon.
The plane had been about 12 miles offshore when it lost contact, prompting an immediate response from the US Coast Guard. The flight was traveling across the Norton Sound, a body of water linking the Bering Sea to Alaska’s western coastline, a distance of approximately 146 miles between the two cities.
Search and rescue teams are currently focusing on the last known coordinates of the flight as they work to locate the aircraft. The aircraft was being operated by the regional airline Bering Air, which has yet to release any details about the identities of those on board.
The volunteer fire department in Nome confirmed that the pilot had informed air traffic control of their intention to enter a holding pattern while awaiting clearance for landing. However, shortly after that communication, the plane’s position was lost.
The Alaska Department of Public Safety continues to monitor the situation, with rescue teams scrambling to cover the area where the plane went missing.
