A Bering Air plane with 10 people aboard, including nine passengers and a pilot, was reported missing while en route from Unalakleet to Nome in Alaska. Search and rescue crews are actively looking for the aircraft, with the National Guard, Coast Guard, and local authorities involved in the operation. Bad weather initially hampered air search efforts, but an HC-130 Coast Guard plane equipped for search and rescue has joined the mission. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department confirmed an active ground search is also underway. Norton Sound Health Corporation is standing by for potential medical emergencies.
Alaska has a high number of air taxi accidents due to its challenging weather and terrain, as well as the reliance on small planes for transportation. Bering Air, an Alaska-based regional airline, operates around 39 planes and helicopters. The recent incident is part of a string of aviation mishaps in the U.S., including fatal crashes and accidents at major airports in Chicago, Seattle, and Houston.
The public is urged not to form individual search parties due to safety concerns, with families encouraged to seek support from local health facilities. Meanwhile, investigation into the Bering Air plane’s disappearance continues, with rescue crews focusing on locating the missing aircraft and passengers.
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