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All 10 people aboard Alaska plane that crashed died, says US Coast Guard All 10 people aboard Alaska plane that crashed died, says US Coast Guard
(about 20 hours later)
Authorities found the plane, which was carrying passengers across Norton Sound, about 34 miles south-east of NomeAuthorities found the plane, which was carrying passengers across Norton Sound, about 34 miles south-east of Nome
A small commuter plane carrying 10 people across Alaska’s Norton Sound that crashed in western Alaska has been found, the US Coast Guard posted on social media on Friday afternoon. All 10 people who were on the plane died.A small commuter plane carrying 10 people across Alaska’s Norton Sound that crashed in western Alaska has been found, the US Coast Guard posted on social media on Friday afternoon. All 10 people who were on the plane died.
The plane was found about 34 miles (54km) south-east of Nome, the Coast Guard said. Mike Salerno, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard, said rescuers were searching the aircraft’s last known location by helicopter when they spotted the wreckage. They lowered two rescue swimmers to investigate. The plane was found about 34 miles (54km) south-east of Nome, the coast guard said. Mike Salerno, a spokesperson for the coast guard, said rescuers had been searching the aircraft’s last known location by helicopter when they spotted the wreckage. They lowered two rescue swimmers to investigate.
The Bering Air Caravan, a single-engine turboprop, was heading from Unalakleet to Nome on Thursday afternoon with nine passengers and a pilot, according to Alaska’s department of public safety. The Bering Air Caravan, a single-engine turboprop, had been heading from Unalakleet to Nome on Thursday afternoon with nine passengers and a pilot, according to Alaska’s department of public safety.
The Cessna Caravan left Unalakleet at 2.37pm local time, and officials lost contact with it less than an hour later, according to David Olson, director of operations for Bering Air. The aircraft was 12 miles offshore, the Coast Guard said. It was operating at its maximum passenger capacity, according to the airline’s description of the plane. The Cessna Caravan left Unalakleet at 2.37pm local time, and officials lost contact with it less than an hour later, according to David Olson, director of operations for Bering Air. The aircraft was 12 miles offshore, the coast guard said. It had been operating at its maximum passenger capacity, according to the airline’s description of the plane.
The plane was last seen over Norton Sound around 3.16pm local time, according to data from flight tracker FlightRadar 24.The plane was last seen over Norton Sound around 3.16pm local time, according to data from flight tracker FlightRadar 24.
Data provided by the US civil air patrol indicated that about 3.18pm local time, the plane had “some kind of event which caused them to experience a rapid loss in elevation and a rapid loss in speed”, Coast Guard Lt Cmdr Benjamin McIntyre-Coble said. “What that event is, I can’t speculate to.” Data provided by the US civil air patrol indicated that at about 3.18pm local time, the plane had “some kind of event which caused them to experience a rapid loss in elevation and a rapid loss in speed”, coast guard Lt Cmdr Benjamin McIntyre-Coble said. “What that event is, I can’t speculate to.”
The disappearance marks the third major incident in US aviation in eight days. A commercial jetliner and an army helicopter collided near the nation’s capital on 29 January, killing 67 people. A medical transportation plane crashed in Philadelphia on 31 January, killing the six people onboard and another person on the ground.The disappearance marks the third major incident in US aviation in eight days. A commercial jetliner and an army helicopter collided near the nation’s capital on 29 January, killing 67 people. A medical transportation plane crashed in Philadelphia on 31 January, killing the six people onboard and another person on the ground.
Unalakleet is a community of about 690 people in western Alaska, about 150 miles (240km) south-east of Nome and 395 miles north-west of Anchorage.Unalakleet is a community of about 690 people in western Alaska, about 150 miles (240km) south-east of Nome and 395 miles north-west of Anchorage.
Bering Air serves 32 villages in western Alaska from hubs in Nome, Kotzebue and Unalakleet. Most destinations receive twice-daily scheduled flights Monday through Saturday.Bering Air serves 32 villages in western Alaska from hubs in Nome, Kotzebue and Unalakleet. Most destinations receive twice-daily scheduled flights Monday through Saturday.
Airplanes are often the only option for travel of any distance in rural Alaska, particularly in the winter.Airplanes are often the only option for travel of any distance in rural Alaska, particularly in the winter.
The Alaska air national guard searched with an HC-130 plane on Thursday night, but a helicopter had to return because of bad weather before even reaching the search area.The Alaska air national guard searched with an HC-130 plane on Thursday night, but a helicopter had to return because of bad weather before even reaching the search area.
The Nome volunteer fire department said in a statement on social media that ground crews were searching across the coast, from Nome to Topkok.The Nome volunteer fire department said in a statement on social media that ground crews were searching across the coast, from Nome to Topkok.
“Due to weather and visibility, we are limited on air search at the current time,” it said. The region is prone to sudden snow squalls and high winds in the winter, and people were told not to form their own search parties because the weather was too dangerous.“Due to weather and visibility, we are limited on air search at the current time,” it said. The region is prone to sudden snow squalls and high winds in the winter, and people were told not to form their own search parties because the weather was too dangerous.
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However, the guard was approved to fly the helicopter on Friday morning, and the Coast Guard brought an additional C-130 to help, the Nome volunteer fire department said in a statement posted on social media. However, the guard was approved to fly the helicopter on Friday morning, and the coast guard brought an additional C-130 to help, the Nome volunteer fire department said in a statement posted on social media.
It was 17F (-8.3C) in Unalakleet around takeoff, according to the National Weather Service. Weather conditions included fog, light snow and freezing drizzle on Thursday evening. Visibility was down to half a mile at one point, with forecasts of wind gusts up to 35mph overnight.It was 17F (-8.3C) in Unalakleet around takeoff, according to the National Weather Service. Weather conditions included fog, light snow and freezing drizzle on Thursday evening. Visibility was down to half a mile at one point, with forecasts of wind gusts up to 35mph overnight.
The names of the people onboard were not yet being released.The names of the people onboard were not yet being released.
Nome, a Gold Rush town, is just south of the Arctic Circle and is known as the ending point of the 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.Nome, a Gold Rush town, is just south of the Arctic Circle and is known as the ending point of the 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
Associated Press contributed to reportingAssociated Press contributed to reporting