A tragic incident unfolded in western Alaska as a Bering Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan disappeared from radar screens while en route from Unalakleet to Nome. The aircraft, carrying nine passengers and one pilot, lost communication around 4 p.m. local time, less than an hour after departing Unalakleet.
The Alaska Department of Public Safety was alerted to the situation on February 6, 2025, when the aircraft was reported missing. Search and rescue (SAR) teams immediately sprang into action to locate the missing plane, but hazardous winter weather and limited visibility posed significant challenges to aerial search efforts.
Ground search teams from Nome and White Mountain have been mobilized to comb the area, while residents are urged to refrain from organizing their own search parties due to the dangerous conditions. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department is actively involved in coordinating the search efforts, with support from the National Guard, Coast Guard, Troopers, and Norton Sound Health Corporation.
As of 7:00 p.m. local time, search efforts have intensified, with a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 aircraft conducting an aerial survey to pinpoint the precise location of the missing plane. Equipped with advanced search and rescue technology, the C-130 is instrumental in detecting objects and individuals even in zero-visibility conditions.
Elmendorf Air Force Base is also providing flight support to bolster the search operations, underscoring the collaborative efforts to locate the aircraft. Despite extensive ground coverage from Nome to Topkok, the exact whereabouts of the plane remain elusive. Nevertheless, authorities remain unwavering in their commitment to exhaust all avenues in the search until the missing Bering Air Cessna Caravan is located.
