Alaska Plane missing with 10 people on board

Rescue crews in Alaska are searching for a small commercial plane that went missing with 10 people on board, local authorities confirmed on Friday

The Bering Air Caravan, carrying nine passengers and one pilot, was reported overdue after departing from Unalakleet for Nome at 4:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time (0100 GMT) on Thursday, according to Alaska State Police. The two cities, located on the state’s west coast, are about 146 miles (235 km) apart across Norton Sound.

Nome’s volunteer fire department stated that the pilot had informed Anchorage air traffic control of his intention to enter a holding pattern while waiting for the runway to be cleared. However, contact was lost soon after.

The U.S. Coast Guard has deployed a C-130 aircraft to assist ground crews in the search. As of Friday, authorities said there were no updates on the plane’s location, but crews continue canvassing as much area as possible.

FlightRadar24 data showed the aircraft’s last known position was over water approximately 40 minutes after takeoff.

This incident adds to a recent string of aviation disasters in the U.S. On January 30, a passenger jet collided midair with a U.S. Army helicopter over Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people aboard. Shortly after, a medical plane crashed in a busy Philadelphia neighborhood, resulting in seven deaths and 19 injuries.

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