A search and rescue mission off the coast of Alaska following the Thursday disappearance of an aircraft that reportedly had 10 people aboard has ended, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday evening. Officials said in a virtual news conference Friday that “an item of interest” has been identified amid the efforts.
Later, in an X post, they said the aircraft was located approximately 34 miles southeast from where it was supposed to land and that three individuals were found inside and reported to be deceased.
“The remaining 7 people are believed to be inside the aircraft but are currently inaccessible due to the condition of the plane,” said a follow up post. “Our heartfelt condolences are with those affected by this tragic incident.”
An official from the U.S. Coast Guard said they could not elaborate on the item of interest at around 4 p.m. ET Friday.
This search and rescue operation was activated within a week of two deadly crashes in the U.S. – one in Washington D.C. that claimed 67 lives and another in Pennsylvania that claimed six. During the Friday news conference, officials said that they believed there are individuals who are still in a position to be assisted by the Coast Guard.
Lt. Ben Endres of the Alaska State Troopers said everyone who boarded the plane was an adult (based on a passenger manifest provided by Bering Air) that the passengers’ next of kin had been notified and that their identities have not been made publicly available. He also said it was a regularly scheduled flight and that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has offered to provide equipment that might aid in the search and rescue efforts.
In a Thursday X post, USCGAlaska said that “U.S. Coast Guard District 17 responded to an aircraft emergency notification from Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at 4:30 p.m.” It said the plane was a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan – Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska Regional Office confirmed that this type of plane typically sits nine passengers and one pilot.
“An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station kodiak to search their last known position,” said USCGAlaska in a follow-up X post. “The aircraft was 12 miles offshore transiting from Unalakleet to Nome when its position was lost.”
USCG officials said a variety of aircraft and assets were deployed to help search for the aircraft. Technology being used in the search includes resources that can help determine water temperature and ice flow in the area. Partners, including the Alaska National Guard and more, were called to help with the efforts.
While conditions cleared up somewhat Friday, weather conditions were difficult on Thursday. Allan Brown, director of public affairs for the Alaska National Guard, said that one of the guard’s helicopters even had to turn around Thursday due to the severe weather.
Per the Coast Guard, the plane’s position was transponded Thursday night in the vicinity of Norton Sound, located approximately 30 miles southeast of Nome. Coast Guard officials said that, as of late Friday afternoon, it was around 3 degrees in that area and the water temperature was around 29 degrees.
“USCG Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircrew searched the area between Nome and White Mountain with negative results. A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew is en route to the location from Cold Bay,” said a Friday X post from the Coast Guard.
A post from the Nome Volunteer Fire Department cited by the Anchorage Daily News said that the plan was not sending and Emergency Locator Transmitter signal as of Friday morning. The Daily News also reported that officials lost contact with the plane less than an hour after it took off, citing David Olson, director of operations for Bering Air.
So far, the cause of the incident is unknown, though radar data suggests the plane rapidly lost altitude. Johnson of the NTSB said that his agency is currently focused on helping the search and rescue mission. Once that is complete, he said the will begin an investigation into the incident.
In response to questions from reporters, he added that the NTSB will look at the pilot as an “integral part,” of the investigation. Reporters also noted that the Nome airport was in a “holding pattern” but officials did not have any information as to why, though it might have been related to the weather.