A dramatic race against time unfolds as search crews scour Alaska's Norton Sound for a missing Cessna aircraft carrying 10 people.
According to CNN, the Bering Air-operated Cessna 208B Grand Caravan disappeared Thursday afternoon approximately 12 miles offshore while en route from Unalakleet to Nome, prompting an extensive multi-agency search operation.
The aircraft, which was last tracked over Norton Sound at 3:16 p.m. Thursday, had informed air traffic control of its intention to enter a holding pattern while awaiting runway clearance. Search efforts have been complicated by the absence of emergency locator transmitter signals, which typically help pinpoint downed aircraft locations.
Poor weather conditions severely limited Thursday's aerial search capabilities, with initial flights by Coast Guard and US Air Force C-130 crews yielding no results. The Nome area experienced light snow and freezing drizzle, with visibility dropping to half a mile and wind gusts reaching up to 35 mph overnight.
Conditions improved Friday morning as clear skies emerged over Nome Airport, with temperatures hovering around 5 degrees. The National Guard and Coast Guard deployed additional helicopter search teams, while another Coast Guard C-130 arrived in Nome to support the operation.
The FBI has joined the effort, providing technical assistance by attempting to geolocate passengers' cell phones. Their field offices specialize in analyzing cellular tower data to determine the last known locations of mobile devices.
The Nome Volunteer Fire Department has cautioned the public against forming independent search parties due to safety concerns. A fire department crew has been dispatched to survey both inland areas and the coastline.
Bering Air, which has served over 30 local communities since 1979, stands ready to deploy utility aircraft and helicopter support. The airline is coordinating with the Coast Guard, which maintains control of the airspace during the search operation.
Local medical facilities have mobilized their resources in preparation for potential emergency response. Norton Sound Regional Hospital has established a family center for passengers' loved ones awaiting updates.
The disappearance occurs during a period of heightened scrutiny of US air safety following two recent fatal incidents. These events include a January 29 collision between a military Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet near Washington, DC, resulting in 67 fatalities, and a January 31 medevac jet crash in Philadelphia that claimed seven lives.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy expressed his concern for those affected, stating:
Our prayers are with the passengers, the pilot, and their loved ones during this difficult time. We are closely monitoring the ongoing search and rescue efforts and stand ready to support in any way we can.
The Coast Guard plans to deploy a buoy to track ice movement, which will help inform their search strategy. Weather conditions are expected to remain stable through Saturday morning, allowing continued aerial search operations.
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan vanished Thursday afternoon while attempting to land at Nome Airport, carrying nine passengers and one pilot. Multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard, National Guard, FBI, and local emergency services, have mobilized an extensive search operation covering both water and land areas around Norton Sound. As weather conditions improve and additional resources join the effort, search teams remain hopeful while families anxiously await news at the Norton Sound Regional Hospital's family center.
