Missing Bering Air Plane Found in Alaska Sea Ice, No Survivors: Coast Guard
Published Feb 07, 2025 at 4:34 PM EST Updated Feb 07, 2025 at 7:56 PM EST
By Gabe Whisnant and Jesus Mesa
Deputy Weekend Editor
The U.S. Coast Guard for the Alaska maritime region reported on Friday that it located an aircraft matching the description of the missing Bering Air plane.
Just after 6:15 p.m. ET, the Coast Guard posted on X, formerly Twitter, that three individuals were found inside the plane and reported to be deceased. The plane was found 34 miles southeast of Nome on the sea ice of Norton Sound.
According to the Anchorage Daily News, Lt. Cmdr. Mike Salerno reported that rescuers reached the aircraft and found three individuals, all of whom were deceased. Salerno confirmed that there were no other survivors at the site of the crash.
Around 7:30 p.m., the Coast Guard posted on x that it has "ended its search for the missing plane."
The post continued, "The remaining 7 people are believed to be inside the aircraft but are currently inaccessible due to the condition of the plane. Our heartfelt condolences are with those affected by this tragic incident."
Earlier Friday, an "item of interest" was found in the search for the missing Bering Air plane, the U.S. Coast Guard announced.
The discovery came as search teams intensify efforts to locate the aircraft, which vanished Thursday while carrying 10 people. Alaska State Trooper Lt. Ben Endres said Friday at a news conference that the passengers on the plane are all adults.
Search and rescue teams in Alaska are intensifying efforts to locate a missing Bering Air flight that vanished on Thursday. The aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, was traveling from Unalakleet to Nome, a roughly 150-mile journey over the remote Norton Sound, when it disappeared from radar.
The Coast Guard reported that the plane experienced a rapid loss of elevation and speed before its signal was lost. Despite the circumstances, officials have stressed that the search remains an active rescue mission rather than a recovery effort.
Alan Brown, director of public affairs for the Alaska National Guard, emphasized that there were no immediate plans to change the status of the case to a recovery mission.
"This is still an active search and rescue effort," Brown told reporters on Friday.
He also confirmed that an "item of interest" had been spotted but declined to provide further details on whether it was plane debris or another significant clue.
The search operation has been extensive, with multiple agencies involved. The U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska Air National Guard and FBI are leading the efforts, with additional support from local search teams. Aircraft, including C-130 planes, have been deployed to scan the icy waters, while ground crews on snowmobiles continue to comb the coastline and tundra.
Weather conditions at the time of the disappearance included light snow and freezing drizzle near Nome Airport, though operations have benefited from improved conditions since Friday morning. The Coast Guard has deployed tracking buoys to monitor ice movement, which could provide valuable clues in locating the plane.
Authorities have also turned to technology to aid in the search. FBI agents are analyzing cellphone tracking data from passengers to help determine the aircraft's last known location. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department has urged residents to refrain from launching private search missions because of hazardous conditions in the area.