**Authorities investigate radar loss leading to the fatal incident in Norton Sound**
**Tragic Plane Crash in Alaska Claims Lives of All 10 Onboard**
**Tragic Plane Crash in Alaska Claims Lives of All 10 Onboard**
**Search and recovery efforts underway as families mourn the victims**
Crews are engaged in recovery operations following a devastating plane crash in Alaska that claimed the lives of all ten individuals onboard. Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, stated that the investigation is still in its early stages, noting that it remains too early to determine the cause of the crash. The Cessna Grand Caravan, operated by Bering Air, was en route from Unalakleet to Nome when it lost contact with radar.
There were nine passengers and a pilot aboard the aircraft when it went down in Norton Sound, roughly 34 miles southeast of Nome, a city with a population of about 3,500. Among the deceased were Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson, employees of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium who were traveling to perform maintenance work on a local water facility, as confirmed by the organization on Friday.
Homendy indicated that a team of nine investigators is currently on the scene, with additional support from specialists in Washington, D.C. "Our primary focus right now is on victim recovery," she stated during a press briefing in Anchorage. She extended heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this tragic event. Recovery workers are contending with worsening weather conditions, as the wreckage rests on an ice floe that is shifting at a rate of five miles per day.
Bering Air expressed its sorrow and promised full cooperation with the ongoing investigation. The US Coast Guard received reports of an overdue aircraft at approximately 4 PM local time on Thursday. The Nome volunteer fire department revealed that the pilot had communicated intentions to enter a holding pattern while awaiting runway clearance. However, the US Coast Guard reported that the plane suffered a rapid decrease in altitude and speed prior to losing contact.
Low visibility footage captured around the time of the crash has emerged, highlighting the hazardous conditions. In the wake of this tragedy, Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski offered her condolences to the families affected, while Alaska's Governor Mike Dunleavy expressed his heartbreak over the incident. "Our prayers are with the passengers, the pilot, and their loved ones during this difficult time," he remarked.
Unakleet and Nome are situated approximately 150 miles apart across Norton Sound, part of the Bering Sea. Investigations continue as the community grapples with the loss of life.
There were nine passengers and a pilot aboard the aircraft when it went down in Norton Sound, roughly 34 miles southeast of Nome, a city with a population of about 3,500. Among the deceased were Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson, employees of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium who were traveling to perform maintenance work on a local water facility, as confirmed by the organization on Friday.
Homendy indicated that a team of nine investigators is currently on the scene, with additional support from specialists in Washington, D.C. "Our primary focus right now is on victim recovery," she stated during a press briefing in Anchorage. She extended heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this tragic event. Recovery workers are contending with worsening weather conditions, as the wreckage rests on an ice floe that is shifting at a rate of five miles per day.
Bering Air expressed its sorrow and promised full cooperation with the ongoing investigation. The US Coast Guard received reports of an overdue aircraft at approximately 4 PM local time on Thursday. The Nome volunteer fire department revealed that the pilot had communicated intentions to enter a holding pattern while awaiting runway clearance. However, the US Coast Guard reported that the plane suffered a rapid decrease in altitude and speed prior to losing contact.
Low visibility footage captured around the time of the crash has emerged, highlighting the hazardous conditions. In the wake of this tragedy, Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski offered her condolences to the families affected, while Alaska's Governor Mike Dunleavy expressed his heartbreak over the incident. "Our prayers are with the passengers, the pilot, and their loved ones during this difficult time," he remarked.
Unakleet and Nome are situated approximately 150 miles apart across Norton Sound, part of the Bering Sea. Investigations continue as the community grapples with the loss of life.
