Search Efforts Intensify for Missing Bering Air Flight

DALLAS — Search and rescue operations continue in Alaska after a regional airline flight with nine passengers and one pilot, lost contact on Thursday. 

A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan operated by Bering Air (8E) was reported overdue en route from the western Alaskan cities of Unalakleet and Nome, separated by the Norton Sound inlet.

Alaska State Troopers confirmed that the aircraft's last known location was around 12 miles from the shore when it suddenly vanished from radar. Adverse weather conditions on Thursday held back the efforts of Air Force C-130 crews from the Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force to conduct searches.

The visibility improved on Friday, making deploying more search resources easier. Helicopter search teams from the National Guard and the Coast Guard were added to the effort. A second Coast Guard C-130 aircraft landed in Nome to support the search, and a ground crew from the Nome Volunteer Fire Department was sent tot the coast.

What We Know So Far

As there are no reports if the airplane transmitted any signal from its emergency locator transmitter, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is assisting by geolocating phone cell signals. The last known location of the Cessna was over the Norton Sound at 3:16 p.m. local time. 

At the time, the pilot had advised air traffic control of plans to enter a holding pattern while awaiting clearance to land at Nome Airport (OME).

Light snow and freezing drizzle were reported in the area, with visibility reduced to as low as half a mile. Winds were expected to reach 35 mph overnight, creating challenging conditions for the aircraft and the ongoing search efforts.

David Olson, the operations director at 8E, confirmed that the flight departed Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. The Nome-based airline serves over 30 isolated communities in western Alaska. As it responded to the accident, Bering Air worked with the Coast Guard and local agencies to prepare extra aircraft if needed. 

The region's hospitals, such as the Norton Sound Regional Hospital, have been alerted to deal with any medical emergencies. A family center has also been set up to assist the loved ones waiting for news about the missing passengers.

The Nome Volunteer Fire Department has contacted all families of those on board, though no names have been released. Due to dangerous weather conditions, the department has asked the public not to conduct independent search efforts.

Harsh Weather for a Difficult Search

Search efforts now include coordinated shoreline and sea ice coverage, with aerial and ground teams using equipment capable of detecting the aircraft under low-visibility conditions. While extensive search operations continue, no definitive evidence of the plane's location has been uncovered as of Friday afternoon.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will not start its investigation until the aircraft's fate is known. The NTSB keeps a team in Alaska throughout the year because of the high rate of aviation incidents there.

One theory involves ice accumulation on the wings, which "might degrade the airplane's performance significantly, to a stall or a crash," stated an aviation analyst via CNN. Some hope remains that the plane may have landed on thick sea ice, improving the chances of survival for those on board.

Unalakleet is a small town of about 690 residents located 150 miles southeast of Nome and 395 miles northwest of Anchorage. Nome, also known as the finish line of the Iditarod sled dog race, is situated just south of the Arctic Circle and is home to Bering Air's headquarters.

So far, the Coast Guard's Hercules HC-130 aircraft have been used to fly grid patterns, while ground crews have expanded their operations along the coast from Nome to Topkok.  However, on Thursday, Nome reported near-whiteout conditions with persistent light snow and fog.

Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan expressed his concern: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, their families, and the rescue crew." The local authorities have pledged to continue search efforts for the aircraft it is located, including the Nome Volunteer Fire Department and Alaska State Troopers.

Stay tuned to Airways for further updates.

Update

A small commuter plane was located Friday on sea ice. All 10 people on board were found dead, authorities said.