A Bering Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan carrying ten people has been reported missing near Nome, Alaska, according to local officials. The aircraft, which departed Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. Thursday with nine passengers and one pilot aboard, was last detected on FlightRadar at 3:16 p.m. over Norton Sound.
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Search and rescue operations are currently underway, though severe weather conditions are presenting significant challenges. According to White Mountain Fire Chief Jack Adams, ground crews are searching a 30-mile stretch along the coast between Nome and Topkok, utilizing the Iditarod trail due to difficult sea ice conditions.
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"They're prepared to be out all night, they will search here until they find them or somebody else finds them," Adams stated. He noted that near-whiteout conditions have grounded aircraft, severely limiting visibility for both air and ground searches.
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Multiple agencies have mobilized in response to the emergency. The Coast Guard has deployed a C-130 aircraft equipped with specialized search and rescue equipment for low-visibility conditions, while the Air Force at Elmendorf is providing additional flight support. Local search and rescue teams from Nome and White Mountain communities are conducting ground searches using snowmachines and other vehicles.
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Norton Sound Health Corporation in Nome has announced its readiness to respond to a potential medical emergency. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department has requested that the public refrain from forming individual search parties due to dangerous weather conditions and safety concerns.
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Recent satellite imagery provided by UAF's Rick Thoman through NOAA has revealed the presence of a lead in the ice near shore, as well as ice pack conditions in the search area.
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The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center initially reported the missing aircraft to State Troopers at 4:00 p.m. Search efforts are ongoing, with emergency responders prepared for an extended operation despite challenging conditions.
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Families of those potentially affected are being directed to seek support through Norton Sound Health Corporation while the search continues.

Search teams battle whiteout conditions in desperate hunt for Cessna carrying passengers over Norton Sound

10 Missing as Bering Air Plane Vanishes from Alaska's Sky

Search teams battle whiteout conditions in desperate hunt for Cessna carrying passengers over Norton Sound

February 7, 2025 | 14:00 IST