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A plane carrying 10 people that disappeared mid-flight in rural Alaska during a winter storm has been found, alongside three bodies, authorities confirmed.
On Friday, shortly after 2 p.m. local time, the U.S. Coast Guard announced the aircraft had been found approximately 34 miles southeast of Nome in the west of the state, and that there were no survivors of the crash.
The plane took off from Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. before losing contact with air traffic control less than an hour later.
Two victims have been named publicly: Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson, who were in Unalakleet to service a heat recovery system at a community water plant, according to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.
Rescue crews plan to use a Black Hawk helicopter to lift the wreckage off the ice, ahead of what the National Weather Service predicts will be “difficult” weather throughout Saturday.
“It’s slushy, young ice. It’s not stable,” Nome Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim West said Friday of conditions at the crash site.
The National Transportation Safety Board has sent teams to investigate.
The incident marks the third major air disaster this year, after crashes in Washington and Philadelphia.
Victims named in Alaska plane crash
Two of the 10 people likely killed in the Alaska plane crash have been identified as employees of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.
Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson worked in utility operations for the group.
They were in Unalakleet to service a heating system at a water plant, the consortium told local media.
“Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson were passionate about the work they did, cared deeply for the communities they served, and made a lasting impact on rural communities across our state,” Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium interim president Natasha Singh said in a statement to Alaska’s News Source.
“They gave the ultimate sacrifice for the people we serve in the work we do,” she added. “Everyone at ANTHC feels a sense of shock and loss because they were so crucial to our Rural Energy and Tribal Support teams. My thoughts are with their families, the people who worked alongside them day in and day out, and for everyone else who lost a loved one today.”
Josh Marcus8 February 2025 14:41
Recap: What happened to the vanished Bering air flight near Nome
A plane carrying 10 people that went missing in rural Alaska during a brutal winter storm on Thursday, has now been found.
Rescue crews are worked through “zero visibility conditions” to search for survivors aboard the Bering Air Flight 445, though authorities later announced there had been no survivors.
Here’s what we know so far:
Mike Bedigan8 February 2025 14:00
ICYMI: Wreckage of missing Alaska flight found with no survivors
A plane matching the one that went missing in Alaska with 10 aboard has been found, along with three bodies, authorities have confirmed.
The U.S. Coast Guard said the aircraft had been found approximately 34 miles southeast of of Nome and that all the passengers on board are dead. “Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragic incident,” the USCG said.
Read the full story here:
Mike Bedigan8 February 2025 13:00
Unspecified ‘event’ caused missing aircraft to drop off radars
An unspecified “event” caused the Bering Air Flight 445 to drop off the radars, officials have said.
Coast Guard Luitenant Commander Ben McIntyre-Coble said on Friday that “some kind of event” caused the aircraft to “rapidly lose altitude and speed.”
He said he could not comment on the nature of the event, and added that investigations are ongoing.
Mike Bedigan8 February 2025 12:00
All passengers on missing flight were adults
All 10 passengers on the missing Bering flight were adults, officials have confirmed.
The USCG announced that all those aboard the plane were dead, at around 3 p.m. local time on Friday.
Mike Bedigan8 February 2025 11:00
Watch: Major search launched as Bering Air plane goes missing in Alaska with 10 onboard
Mike Bedigan8 February 2025 10:00
Three aviation incidents in 8 days
The U.S. skies have seen multiple aviation incidents since late January.
On January 29, a military helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet, killing all 67 people on board both aircrafts.
Days later, a medical jet carrying a young girl, her mother and four crew members crashed down in northeast Philadelphia, claiming all the lives on board.
Now, the plane flying 10 people to Nome, Alaska has disappeared during a winter storm. Officials are now in a race against time to find the nine passengers and pilot.
Kelly Rissman8 February 2025 09:00
Cause of the incident remains ‘unknown’ after plane and passengers found dead
Though the aircraft and its passengers have now been found, the cause of the incident is still unknown.
Authorities previously said Bering Air Flight 455 suffered “some kind of event” before that caused it to “rapidly lose altitude and speed.”
Mike Bedigan8 February 2025 08:00
What happened to the vanished Bering air flight near Nome?
A plane carrying 10 people that went missing in rural Alaska during a brutal winter storm on Thursday, has now been found.
Rescue crews are worked through “zero visibility conditions” to search for survivors aboard the Bering Air Flight 445, though authorities later announced there had been no survivors.
Mike Bedigan8 February 2025 07:00
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said he and his wife were “heartbroken” by the deaths of the Bering Air Flight 445 passengers.
“Our prayers are with the families, friends, and communities mourning this tragedy,” he wrote on X.
“We are grateful to the search teams who worked tirelessly to locate the aircraft. I ask all Alaskans to keep those affected in their thoughts and prayers.”
Mike Bedigan8 February 2025 06:00
