The wreckage of a plane which crashed off the coast of Alaska is being investigated by the authorities.
All 10 people aboard the Bering Air flight 445 between Unalakleet and Nome, including the pilot, have now been found dead and their bodies recovered.
The plane disappeared less than an hour after takeoff on Thursday afternoon, and the wreckage of the Cessna 208B was found sitting on sea ice about 34miles southeast of Nome on Friday.
Ben McIntyre-Coble from the US
‘What that event is, I can’t speculate to.
‘You know, it’s February in Alaska and the weather has not been fantastic.’
He said he was unaware of any distress signals from the aircraft, despite the plane carrying an emergency locating transmitter which activates if exposed to seawater and relays a distress signal to the Coast Guard.
Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board Chair, also warned it is too early to speculate about the cause of the crash, CBS reports.
‘What we want to do is get that wreckage so that we can examine it ourselves,’ she added.
‘Please know that we will work diligently to determine how this happened with the ultimate goal of improving safety here in Alaska and across the United States.’
Authorities are now in a race against time to investigate the wreckage before an oncoming storm disrupts their work.
All of the bodies have been removed from the wreckage and sent to Nome, and investigators plan to remove the plane from its resting place for analysis.
The bodies will then be transported to the Alaska State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage for autopsies.
The wreckage is lying on sea ice described as ‘young and unstable’ by officials, and with ‘hazardous’ weather predicted in the area, it could be difficult to access and investigate.
The ice floe is drifting about five miles a day, making recovery conditions difficult to contend with, and Alaska’s National Guard is set to take part in recovery efforts.
They are sending two Black Hawk helicopters, a cargo aircraft and a team of pararescuemen to move the wreck, the Independent reports.
All 10 victims of the crash have now been identified:
- 34-year-old Chad Antill from Nome (pilot)
- 52-year-old Liane Ryan from Wasilla
- 58-year-old Donnell Erickson from Nome
- 30-year-old Andrew Gonzalez from Wasilla
- 41-year-old Kameron Hartvigson from Anchorage
- 46-year-old Rhone Baumgartner from Anchorage
- 52-year-old Jadee Moncur from Eagle River
- 45-year-old Ian Hofmann from Anchorage
- 34-year-old Talaluk Katchatag from Unalakleet
- 48-year-old Carol Mooers from Unalakleet
The flight was a regularly scheduled commuter trip, and at the time here was light snow and fog, with a temperature of -8.3°C.
Bering Air has now resumed flights, having suspended them in the aftermath of the crash.
The airline serves 32 villages in western Alaska, with most destinations receiving twice-daily scheduled flights between Monday and Saturday, as many communities are not connected to the state’s road system.
The airline said in a statement: ‘At this incredibly difficult time, Bering Air would like to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support we have received.
‘The tragic accident that occurred on February 6, 2025, has shaken us all to our core.
‘This has been an unprecedented event for both our team and our customers, and we are truly heartbroken by the loss.
‘It is crucial for us to share with you that the decision to resume flying so soon is not taken lightly.
‘As the sole provider of essential air travel in our region, we are deeply aware of the critical needs of the travelling public—whether for medical appointments, accessing life-saving medications, or other urgent travel needs.
‘We feel a deep responsibility to continue serving these needs, even as we cope with the profound impact of this tragedy.’
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