No survivors from missing Alaska plane after wreckage found near Nome, Coast Guard says

The remains of a plane reported missing was found 55km southeast of Nome, Alaska. Photo / US Coast Guard

• The wreckage of a missing plane in Alaska has been found, with all 10 people aboard presumed dead.
• Three individuals were confirmed deceased; the remaining seven are believed inaccessible inside the aircraft.
• The plane was reported overdue on a flight from Unalakleet to Nome, spanning 250km.

The wreckage of a plane that went missing in Alaska has been found, US officials said today, with all 10 people aboard thought to have died.

The US Coast Guard said it had discovered the remnants of the Bering Air Caravan around 55km from Nome.

“Three individuals were found inside and reported to be deceased,” the Coast Guard posted on social media.

“The remaining seven people are believed to be inside the aircraft but are currently inaccessible due to the condition of the plane.”

Nome’s volunteer fire department, which had scrambled in the search for the plane, said on Facebook it was helping with recovery.

“The Nome Search and Rescue Team is spooling up with assistance from the Alaska Air National Guard with recovery efforts,” a post said.

“From reports we have received, the crash was not survivable. Our thoughts are with the families at this time.”

The privately operated plane, with nine passengers and one pilot on board, was reported overdue on Friday on a flight from Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska state police said.

The two cities are located roughly 240km apart across the Norton Sound, on the state’s west coast.

According to publicly available information the plane’s last known position was over the water around 40 minutes after take-off.

The crash is the latest incident in a string of aviation disasters in the United States.

On January 30, a passenger jet collided mid-air with a US Army helicopter in Washington, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft.

The disaster was followed closely by the crash of a medical plane into a busy Philadelphia neighbourhood, killing seven and injuring 19.

– Agence France-Presse