Authorities have confirmed that the wreckage of a small plane that went missing in Alaska has been found, with all ten people on board tragically losing their lives.
The United States Coast Guard discovered the remains of the aircraft near Nome on Friday, approximately 885 kilometers (550 miles) northwest of Anchorage. Coast Guard spokesperson Mike Salerno shared the heartbreaking news during a press conference, revealing that search personnel had managed to get close enough to the wreckage to see three bodies inside.
“Unfortunately, it does not appear to be a survivable crash,” Salerno said solemnly.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy expressed his deep sorrow over the incident. “My wife and I are heartbroken,” he said in a statement on social media. “Our prayers are with the families, friends, and communities mourning this tragedy. 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 also shared her condolences, emphasizing how deeply tragedies like this impact the tight-knit Alaskan community. “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,” she wrote.
The aircraft, a privately operated Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, was carrying nine passengers and one pilot when it disappeared on Thursday afternoon. It had been en route from Unalakleet to Nome, and its last known location was over a stretch of water about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southeast of Nome.
This devastating crash is the third aviation tragedy in the United States in just over a week. On January 28, a regional commercial jetliner collided midair with a U.S. Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., claiming 67 lives. Just two days later, a medical transport plane crashed in a Philadelphia neighborhood, killing all six people on board, along with one person on the ground.
As the community grapples with this latest loss, authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash. Meanwhile, the thoughts of many remain with the victims’ families, who are facing unimaginable grief in the wake of this tragedy.
