Aircraft Carrying 10 Passengers Goes Missing in Alaska
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Synopsis
A plane with 10 onboard went missing near Nome, Alaska. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan was traveling from Unalakleet to Nome when it lost contact. Authorities are conducting searches while officials express concern for the passengers and their families.
Key Takeaways
- 10 people are unaccounted for after a plane went missing.
- The flight was a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan.
- Search operations are underway in a 30-mile area.
- Public urged not to form individual search parties.
- Senator Dan Sullivan expresses concern for those involved.
San Francisco, Feb 7 (NationPress) An aircraft carrying 10 individuals has been reported missing close to Nome, which is Alaska's westernmost significant city, as stated by officials.
According to the Alaska State Troopers, the flight included nine passengers and one pilot, with the Alaska Rescue Coordination Centre contacting them at 4 p.m. (0100 GMT Friday) about the missing plane.
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, owned by Bering Air, was reportedly en route from Unalakleet to Nome, as noted by the Nome Volunteer Fire Department.
FlightRadar data indicates that the last recorded information for the flight was at 3:16 p.m. over Norton Sound.
Jack Adams, the fire chief of White Mountain, mentioned that the plane vanished from radar somewhere between Nome and Topkok.
Rescuers are currently conducting searches over a 30-mile (50-km) area in that vicinity, according to Adams.
“If nothing is found, we will likely gather another crew to assist,” he added.
The Nome Volunteer Fire Department has requested the public to refrain from organizing personal search parties due to weather and safety issues, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The Coast Guard is evaluating the region, and a C-130 aircraft will be flying in a grid pattern to attempt to locate the missing plane, as stated on the department's social media page.
Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan shared details about the incident on Facebook, saying: “We are receiving reports of a potential missing aircraft on its way to Nome. Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, their families, and the rescue team.”
The search for the aircraft coincides with ongoing investigations by US air safety officials into two recent tragic incidents. These include a midair collision involving a Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet near Washington, DC, which resulted in 67 fatalities, as well as a medevac jet crash in Philadelphia that claimed seven lives.
