Wreckage of missing commuter Alaska plane found with no survivors, Coast Guard says

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Coast Guard finds wreckage matching missing Alaska plane

Fox News correspondent Mark Meredith reports on the latest headlines relating to U.S. air travel safety on ‘Special Report.’

The U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska said Friday afternoon that it had located the wreckage of the Nome-bound plane that went missing after takeoff with 10 people on board Thursday. 

In a post on X, the Coast Guard also reported that three deceased individuals were found inside the plane, which was located on sea ice about 34 miles southeast of Nome.

“The remaining 7 people are believed to be inside the aircraft but are currently inaccessible due to the condition of the plane,” USCG Alaska posted. “Our heartfelt condolences are with those affected by this tragic incident.”

Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Mike Salerno told the Anchorage Daily News that it’s clear there were no survivors of the crash. 

BERING AIR PLANE CARRYING 10 PEOPLE VANISHES OVER ALASKA; RESCUE CREWS RESPONDING TO ‘ITEM OF INTEREST’ 

USCG has located an aircraft matching the description of the missing plane (X / @USCGAlaska)

The commuter flight, operated by Bering Air, was traveling from Unalakleet to Nome in Western Alaska, when its position was lost about 12 miles offshore, according to the Coast Guard. 

Data from FlightRadar shows the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX last reporting info at 3:16 p.m. local time Thursday over Norton Sound.

Earlier, officials said aerial searches carried out by C-130 Hercules planes from the National Guard and Air Force resulted in “no sightings.”

The flight, operated by Bering Air, was traveling from Unalakleet to Nome in Western Alaska, when its position was lost about 12 miles offshore, according to the Coast Guard. Data from FlightRadar shows the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX last reporting info at 3:16 p.m. over Norton Sound. (Fox News)

In a news conference on Friday, officials said an “item of interest” had been found related to the search. 

Later, a Coast Guard rescue crew arrived at the wreckage site and lowered two rescue swimmers to investigate, the Associated Press reported. 

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During the news conference, the Coast Guard said that data showed a “rapid loss in elevation and rapid loss in speed” for the aircraft at 3:18 p.m. local time on Thursday. 

All 10 people aboard the turboprop plane – nine people and a pilot – were adults, and it was a regularly scheduled flight, Lt. Ben Endres of the Alaska State Troopers said Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.