Authorities are searching for a Bering Air passenger plane carrying 10 people after it was reported missing while en route from Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska, on Thursday.
According to Alaska’s Department of Public Safety, the aircraft—a small turboprop Cessna Caravan—had nine passengers and one pilot on board. Efforts are underway to determine its last-known coordinates.
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicates that the plane’s last recorded position was over water, 38 minutes after it departed Unalakleet at 2:38 p.m. local time (23:38 GMT). The flight, which typically takes under an hour, did not reach its destination.
Alaska’s challenging weather conditions and rugged terrain make air travel particularly hazardous. Many remote villages in the state lack road connections, making small planes a critical mode of transportation for both passengers and cargo. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has reported that a disproportionately high number of air taxi and commuter plane accidents occur in Alaska compared to other US states.
Bering Air, a regional airline operating a fleet of approximately 39 planes and helicopters, has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the missing aircraft.
Rescue teams are continuing their search efforts, with authorities working to determine what may have led to the plane’s disappearance.
Melissa Enoch
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