Cessna Caravan missing in Alaska

Authorities are urgently searching for a Bering Air passenger plane carrying 10 individuals that was reported missing while en route from Unalakleet Airport, AK (UNK/PAUN) to Nome Airport, AK (OME/PAOM), according to Alaska’s Department of Public Safety on Thursday.

The small turboprop Cessna Caravan plane, performing flight BRG445, had nine passengers and one pilot on board, the agency stated on its website adding crews were working to obtain its last-known coordinates. According to the U.S. government's National Institute of Safety and Health, a disproportionate number of air taxi and commuter plane accidents occur in Alaska compared to other U.S. states.

Alaska has mountainous terrain and challenging weather. Many villages are not connected by roads and small planes are used to transport people and goods. Bering Air is an Alaska-based regional airline that operates around 39 planes and helicopters, according to data from flight tracking website FlightRadar24.

Its last position, flying over water, was received by FlightRadar24 trackers 38 minutes after departing Unalakleet at 14.38 local time Thursday for a flight that usually takes under an hour.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Bering Air

Code: 8E/BRG

Aircraft: Cessna 208B

Registration: N321BA

Serial Number: 208B5613

Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A turboprop 

First Flew: January 2020

Age 5 Years