A Bering Air Flight carrying 9 passengers and 1 pilot has mysteriously gone missing near Nome, Alaska, giving a threat alert about a possible crash.
According to international media reports, the aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, disappeared from radar on Thursday afternoon on its way from Unalakleet to Nome.
Flight 445 took off from Unalakleet at 2:37 PM and was last seen on radar at 3:16 PM in the Norton Sound area, officials report says.
Following the flight disappearance, search and rescue operations have launched to find the aircraft and passengers.
The Nome Fire Department and ground teams from White Mountain have also joined the search efforts. However, poor weather conditions and low visibility have posed significant challenges to the aerial search.
The U.S. Coast Guard has deployed a C-130 aircraft to assist the search operation, which will conduct grid-pattern searches in the area. The U.S. Air Force is also assisting in the rescue mission.
Local authorities have reported that severe weather in the region is creating hurdles for the rescue teams. Ground teams are using snow machines and other vehicles to continue the search, but unstable sea ice conditions are adding to the difficulties.
The Nome Fire Department stated, “We are doing everything we can to locate the aircraft and those onboard as quickly as possible. But harsh weather has complicated the search operation. We urge the public not to conduct independent search operations and to pray for the missing individuals.”
The Norton Sound Health Corporation has issued a community medical emergency alert to provide support in case of any urgent situations.
