A small commuter plane that vanished over Alaska’s rugged terrain Thursday has been located, ending a desperate search for survivors. Sadly, all 10 people aboard—including nine passengers and a pilot—perished in the crash, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Friday.
The wreckage of the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, operated by regional carrier Bering Air, was discovered approximately 34 miles southeast of Nome, the flight’s intended destination. Rescue teams recovered three bodies at the site, while the remaining seven victims remain trapped within the mangled debris, inaccessible due to the severe damage.
Among those lost were Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson, two dedicated employees of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC). The pair had traveled to the remote community of Unalakleet to repair a critical heating system at a water plant, a task vital to the town’s survival during the harsh winter.
“Rhone and Kameron poured their hearts into serving Alaska’s rural communities,” said ANTHC’s interim president, Natasha Singh, in an emotional statement. “They were experts in their field, braving freezing conditions to help others. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
The flight departed Unalakleet Thursday afternoon but vanished from radar shortly after the pilot reported plans to enter a holding pattern while waiting for a runway to clear in Nome. Data suggests the aircraft experienced a sudden, catastrophic drop in altitude and speed around 3:18 p.m., plunging into a remote, snow-covered region near Norton Sound.
Search teams faced brutal challenges: blinding snow, subzero temperatures, and shifting sea ice hampered efforts. Coast Guard crews scoured the area by air and sea, while the FBI joined the operation, attempting to trace passengers’ cellphone signals. A breakthrough came Friday when clearer skies allowed helicopters and a Coast Guard C-130 to pinpoint the wreckage.
Notably, the plane’s emergency locator transmitter (ELT)—a device designed to send distress signals—never activated, deepening the mystery. “We’re unsure why the ELT didn’t trigger,” said Lt. Commander Benjamin McIntyre-Coble of the Coast Guard. “It’s a critical tool, and its silence complicated our search.”
Photos released by officials show the aircraft shattered into pieces, a stark reminder of the violence of the crash. “Our hearts are with the families,” the Coast Guard wrote on social media, as tributes poured in from across the state.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy echoed the collective grief, urging residents to “hold loved ones close” and honor the victims’ memories. Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, which adds to recent scrutiny of U.S. air safety following two other deadly incidents last week.
As communities mourn, the focus turns to supporting grieving families. A makeshift center in Nome provided solace for relatives, while local hospitals stood ready to assist—though hope for survivors had already faded.
“Say a prayer tonight for these 10 souls,” urged U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, capturing the nation’s heavy heart. For now, Alaska’s vast, icy wilderness holds the final answers to what went wrong—and the stories of those who tragically never made it home.
Source — This is based on reporting from CNN and the Associated Press.