A single-engine turboprop aircraft carrying 10 people vanished over Alaska's Norton Sound on Thursday afternoon, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation on Friday. The Coast Guard, Air National Guard, and local authorities are collaborating to locate the missing plane, utilizing helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and ground crews.
Searchers scoured miles of frozen tundra and ice-covered seas Friday for any sign of a missing plane carrying 10 people in western Alaska . The aircraft, a Bering Air Caravan single-engine turboprop, disappeared Thursday afternoon over Alaska 's Norton Sound while en route from Unalakleet to Nome , a distance of about 150 miles (240 kilometers). The plane vanished with nine passengers and a pilot on board. FBI agents were using cellphone tracking data to assist in the search for the aircraft.
The Alaska Air National Guard initially searched with an HC-130 plane Thursday night but had to recall a helicopter due to severe weather conditions. Residents were warned against forming their own search parties as the weather was deemed too hazardous. The weather, which was partly sunny and very cold, with an expected high of 16 degrees Fahrenheit (-8.9 Celsius), was expected to remain stable until at least Saturday morning. The Coast Guard deployed an additional C-130 plane to aid in the search, while a ground crew on snowmobiles ventured along the coast and further inland. The Coast Guard also planned to drop a buoy to help track the movement of sea ice, potentially offering a crucial clue to the aircraft's location.The missing plane marks the third major U.S. aviation incident in eight days. On January 29, a commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter collided near Washington D.C., resulting in the deaths of 67 people. On January 31, a medical transportation plane crashed in Philadelphia, killing all six people on board and one person on the ground. The Cessna Caravan departed Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. Thursday. At the time, there was light snow and fog, with a temperature of 17 degrees Fahrenheit (-8.3 Celsius). Officials lost contact with the plane less than an hour later, according to David Olson, director of operations for Bering Air. The U.S. Coast Guard reported that the aircraft's last known location, based on transponder data, was approximately 30 miles southeast of Nome. Bering Air serves 32 villages in western Alaska from hubs in Nome, Kotzebue, and Unalakleet. Most destinations receive twice-daily scheduled flights from Monday through Saturday.
MISSING PLANE ALASKA SEARCH AND RESCUE BERING AIR NOME UNALAKLEET COAST GUARD AIR NATIONAL GUARD AVIATION Mishap
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