A small passenger plane traveling to the community of Nome, in western Alaska, crashed on the sea ice on Thursday. The 10 people aboard, including the pilot, died, authorities reported on Friday.
Location of the Plane and Search on the Ice
U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Mike Salerno explained that rescue teams were searching for the plane when they spotted the wreckage from the air. They used helicopters to explore the area, and two rescue swimmers were sent to investigate the debris.
The Bering Air plane, a Cessna Caravan single-engine turboprop, was traveling from Unalakleet with nine passengers and a pilot. The aircraft took off at 2:37 PM, but authorities lost contact with it less than an hour later.
Complicated Weather Conditions
The National Weather Service reported light snow and fog in the area, with a temperature of 8.3 degrees below zero (17 degrees Fahrenheit), which made visibility and rescue operations difficult.
The plane disappeared about 48 kilometers (30 miles) southeast of Nome, and the coast guard reported that it was located 19 kilometers (12 miles) from the shore at that time.
Details About the Air Accident
According to the U.S. Civil Air Patrol, radar data showed that at 3:18 PM, the plane experienced a rapid loss of altitude and speed. What caused this event? It is still unclear, as no distress signals were sent by the plane.
Lieutenant Commander Benjamin McIntyre-Coble of the Coast Guard said that no emergency signal was received. Normally, planes are equipped with an emergency locator transmitter that should have sent a signal to a satellite in case of danger, but this message never arrived.
The Tragedy in the Context of Air Accidents
This accident is the third major air disaster in the United States in just eight days. On January 29, a commercial airplane and a military helicopter collided near the nation’s capital, killing 67 people. Additionally, on January 31, a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia, resulting in six deaths aboard and another person killed on the ground.
The Crucial Role of Planes in Alaska
In Alaska, many communities are not connected by the road network, and the plane is the only form of transportation in many areas, especially during the winter months. This accident highlights the risks of flying in remote areas and the challenges of rescuing victims in such extreme conditions.
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