A flight carrying 10 people has vanished over Alaska, triggering a frantic search effort in harsh winter conditions. The aircraft, a Bering Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, was flying from Unalakleet to Nome when it disappeared from radar over the Bering Sea.
Authorities have launched an extensive search-and-rescue mission, but severe weather is complicating efforts.
The plane took off at 2:37 p.m. local time. It was last seen over the Norton Sound area at 3:16 p.m. before losing contact with Anchorage Air Traffic Control. The pilot had reported his intention to enter a holding pattern while waiting for the runway at Nome to be cleared.
When the aircraft failed to arrive at its scheduled time around 4 p.m., officials declared it “overdue.” The officials immediately initiated emergency response efforts.
This incident highlights the dangers of flying in Alaska’s extreme weather. Alaska usually has sudden storms, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility creating hazardous conditions.
“We are currently responding to a report of a missing Bering Air caravan. We are doing an active ground search from Nome and from White Mountain. Due to weather and visibility, we are limited on air search at the current time. National Guard and Coast Guard and Troopers have been notified and are active in the search. Norton Sound Health Corporation is standing by.”
the Nome Volunteer Fire Department said in a statement.
Alaska has one of the highest aviation accident rates in the U.S., with over 90 fatal crashes reported between 2011 and 2020, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The disappearance of Flight 445 has left families anxiously awaiting news, with authorities urging them to seek support from the Norton Sound Health Corporation.
Authorities are warning well-intentioned locals against forming independent search parties due to the dangerous conditions.
“We ask the public to keep those missing in their thoughts, but for safety reasons, please do not conduct your own searches.”
Said the Nome Fire Department said in a statement.
The U.S. Coast Guard has dispatched a C-130 aircraft to scan the region, while the U.S. Air Force is providing additional air support from Elmendorf Air Force Base. Ground search teams are actively combing the surrounding terrain.
The disappearance comes just weeks after another major aviation disaster in DC. 67 people lost their lives when an American Airlines jet collided with a Black Hawk Army helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. That tragedy remains under investigation, adding to the growing concerns about air travel safety.
As rescuers battle against time and the elements, the mystery of Flight 445 deepens. Was it a mechanical failure, pilot error, or the brutal Alaskan weather that sealed its fate? With no wreckage or distress signal reported yet, the race is on to find answers. However, the harsh conditions make recovery efforts even more difficult.
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