by Crews in Alaska are looking for an airplane that is missing with 10 people on board.
Alaska State Troopers received the local time at 4 p.m. that a Bering Air Caravan from Unala small to Nome with nine passengers and a pilot was too late, according to an online statement.
The voluntary fire brigade of Nome said in a Facebook message that the pilot told air traffic control: “He was planning to enter a detention pattern while waiting for the catwalk to be deleted.”
Google Maps
A search and rescue plane from the coast guard was sent to the last known location of the plane, 12 miles offshore, according to a statement on X.
The Hercules HC-130 will fly a grid pattern over the water and fly along the coastline with equipment that can help the plane find in conditions without visibility, the fire brigade said.
Elmendorf Air Force Base, in Anchorage, also sent fleet support.
Ground crews have covered a part along the coast from Nome to Topkok, the fire brigade said, adding that “we continue to expand the search efforts to as many roads as possible until the plane is located.”
The National Transportation Safety Board said it keeps an eye on developments, but the agency does not start investigating until the fate of an airplane is determined. It has a team that is stationed in Alaska all year round.
Bering Air is a nome -based wearer.
The Cessna caravan is a single engine propeller plane that contains around 10 people, including the pilot. It is generally reliable and is widely used.
Alaska is no stranger to small aircraft accidents, especially in winter when the weather can make flying very challenging.
There was no early word about what the circumstances were like when contact with the Bering Air Flight was lost.
Kris van Cleave has contributed to this report.
