Search teams are scouring a remote stretch of Alaskan waters and coastline after a Cessna 208B Grand Caravancarrying 10 people disappeared while flying from Unalakleet to Nome on Thursday.
Cessna aircraft vanishes mid-flight: Here’s the latest
Authorities confirmed that the Bering Air-operated flight lost contact roughly 19km offshore before vanishing from radar.
Its last known position has become the focal point of a multi-agency search effort, with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), Alaska State Troopers, and the US Air Force all involved.
The Alaska Rescue Coordination Centre (AKRCC) first reported the aircraft as overdue on Thursday afternoon, prompting an immediate response.
“Search and rescue teams are working under difficult conditions,” a Nome emergency official said.
“At this stage, the aircraft’s exact location remains unknown, but efforts are being expanded to cover all possible search areas.”
How the aircraft went missing
According to reports, flight records show the Bering Air flight, identified as BRG445, departed Unalakleet Airport in the afternoon, initially following a steady course westward.
Tracking data indicates that the aircraft levelled off at around 2,346 metres feet before beginning a descent just minutes before it vanished.
Air traffic controllers lost the aircraft’s signal approximately 40 minutes after takeoff, and attempts to re-establish contact were unsuccessful.
Authorities have yet to determine what caused the aircraft to go missing, though investigators are expected to assess weather conditions, possible mechanical failure, and other factors once more details emerge.