Authorities have confirmed that a small aircraft carrying 10 people, which went missing in the United States, has been found with no survivors.
The United States Coast Guard in Alaska reported on Friday that the wreckage was located near Nome, approximately 885 kilometers (550 miles) northwest of Anchorage.
At a press briefing, Coast Guard spokesperson Mike Salerno stated that two personnel managed to approach the crash site and observed at least three bodies inside the wreckage. Further recovery efforts are underway as officials continue to assess the scene.
“Unfortunately, it does not appear to be a survivable crash,” Salerno said.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said he and his wife were “heartbroken”.
“Our prayers are with the families, friends, and communities mourning this tragedy,” Dunleavy said 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.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski, who represents Alaska, also expressed her sadness at the news.
“Alaska is a big small town. When tragedy strikes, we’re never far removed from the Alaskans directly impacted. But that also means we come together as a community to grieve and heal,” Murkowski said on X.
The privately operated Cessna 208B Grand Caravan carrying nine passengers and one pilot went missing on Thursday afternoon while en route from Unalakleet to Nome.
The plane’s last known location was over a stretch of water about 50 kilometres (30 miles) southeast of Nome.
The crash is the third aviation disaster in the US in little over a week.
On January 28, a regional commercial jetliner collided midair with a US army helicopter near Washington, DC, killing 67 people.
Two days later, a medical transportation plane crashed into a busy Philadelphia neighbourhood, killing the six people on board and one person on the ground.
Source: Al Jazeera
BDST: 1221 HRS, FEB 08, 2025
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