Missing passenger plane found crashed in Alaska sea, all 10 people aboard dead

The wreckage of a regional airline flight which went missing in Alaska has been found, with all 10 people on board dead, the US Coast Guard (USCG) said.The small commuter aircraft had gone missing on Thursday. It was found on Friday about 34 miles southeast of Nome.

USCG Lt. Commander Mike Salerno told CNN that two rescue swimmers have discovered three bodies inside the plane, while the remaining seven “are believed to be inside the wreckage”.

However, they are inaccessible at this time because of the plane’s condition, Salerno added.What went wrong?

Ten people, including nine passengers and a pilot, were on board the Cessna Caravan craft, operated by Bering Air when its position was lost on Thursday afternoon.

Alaska State Troopers noted that the aircraft was going from Unalakleet to Nome, both of which are separated by the Norton Sound inlet in western Alaska. It lost its position around 12 miles (19 km) offshore.

Coast Guard Lt. Commander Benjamin McIntyre-Coble earlier said that at around 3:18 pm (local time) on Thursday, it “experienced some kind of event which caused them to experience a rapid loss in elevation and a rapid loss in speed”.

“#USCG has ended its search for the missing plane after the aircraft was located approx. 34 miles southeast of Nome. 3 individuals were found inside and reported to be deceased,” read a post on the official X handle of USCG Alaska.

It noted that the remaining seven were believed to be inside the aircraft but were inaccessible.

“Our heartfelt condolences are with those affected by this tragic incident,” it added.

#UPDATE (1/2) #USCG has ended its search for the missing plane after the aircraft was located approx. 34 miles southeast of Nome. 3 individuals were found inside and reported to be deceased. pic.twitter.com/XndzBYHdCE

— USCGAlaska (@USCGAlaska) February 8, 2025

It also shared a photograph on the social media platform that shows the aircraft in pieces in snowy terrain.

Probe underway

“Say a prayer tonight for the 10 souls who lost their lives on the Bering Air flight in Alaska,” US Transport Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X.

With support from the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation into the incident.

The FAA “is providing an investigator from the Aviation Safety Office of Accident and Prevention,” besides local support from its aviation safety inspectors, Duffy added.