Bering Air Flight Goes Missing Over Alaska, Wreckage Discovered

A routine commuter flight turned into a devastating mystery when a Bering Air plane carrying ten people disappeared over Alaska, triggering an urgent search and rescue mission.

The missing aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, vanished on Thursday while en route from Unalakleet to Nome. Authorities and rescue teams worked tirelessly to locate the wreckage and bring closure to the victims’ families.

Plane Disappears Mid-Flight

According to the Alaska Department of Public Safety, the Bering Air-operated aircraft had nine passengers and one pilot onboard. The plane departed Unalakleet at 2:37 pm local time and last communicated at 3:16 pm over Norton Sound. Shortly afterward, it went off the radar, prompting a large-scale search effort.

Flight data showed the aircraft’s last known position was approximately 12 miles offshore before disappearing. Adverse weather conditions made search operations challenging, leading authorities to advise the public against conducting independent search missions.

Instead, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) deployed an HC-130 aircraft equipped with advanced technology to assist in locating the missing plane despite poor visibility.

Wreckage Located, Casualties Confirmed

On Friday, search teams discovered the wreckage approximately 34 miles southeast of Nome—its intended destination. Two USCG rescue swimmers found three bodies inside the plane, while the remaining seven passengers are believed to be inside the wreckage but remain inaccessible, according to Lt. Commander Mike Salerno.

Among the confirmed deceased are Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson, employees of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The nonprofit organization stated that both individuals had traveled to Unalakleet to service a heat recovery system crucial to the community’s water plant.

Ongoing Recovery and Investigation

Authorities continue efforts to recover the remaining victims and conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. Bering Air staff are actively cooperating with officials to provide essential flight details and support ongoing search operations.

As communities across Alaska mourn this heartbreaking loss, search teams persist in their mission despite difficult weather conditions, striving to bring closure to the families affected by this tragic incident.