The U.S. authorities have announced the disappearance of a “Cessna 208B Grand Caravan” aircraft belonging to “Bering Air” near the city of Nome in Alaska, on Thursday afternoon. The plane was on a flight from the city of Unalakleet to Nome, with nine passengers and one pilot on board.

Incident Details:

• Time of departure: The plane took off from Unalakleet at 2:37 PM local time.

• Last contact: Contact with the plane was lost less than an hour after takeoff, with its last signal being 12 nautical miles from the shore over Norton Sound.

Search and Rescue Efforts:

Several agencies are participating in the search operations, including:

• The U.S. Coast Guard.

• The National Guard.

• Alaska State Troopers.

• Volunteer fire crews in Nome.

Adverse weather conditions, such as snowfall and fog, hinder aerial search efforts, prompting teams to focus on ground searches using specialized vehicles and snow machines.

Warnings to Citizens:

Local authorities have warned citizens against forming private search teams due to the dangerous weather conditions and advised them to rely on specialized search and rescue teams.

Background:

“Bering Air” is one of the leading aviation companies in Alaska, serving 32 villages in the western region of the state. Airplanes are the primary mode of transportation in these remote areas, especially during the winter.

So far, the aircraft has not been found, nor has the fate of the passengers and crew been determined. Search and rescue operations continue in hopes of finding survivors.