Chilling images from flight radar appear to capture the precise location where a plane en route to Nome, Alaska vanished. A frantic search is underway for the Bering Air flight that took off from Unalakleet and was due to arrive in Nome at 4pm on Thursday but never landed.
The aircraft was carrying a pilot and nine passengers.
Search teams including the National Transportation Safety Board and the Alaska State Troopers are jointly scouring to pinpoint the aircraft’s last known position. Flight radar maps have revealed the exact point of contact loss before the plane could reach its final destination in Nome.
It seems the plane almost completed its journey from Unalakleet to Nome. Nome itself is home to around 3,600 people and is the nearest major hub to the area where the aircraft was last detected.
White Mountain, positioned north of where the plane was last tracked, is a small community with fewer than 200 residents, reports the Mirror.
An “active ground search” is being conducted by the Nome Volunteer Fire Department, stretching from Nome to White Mountain. They released a statement saying: “We are currently responding to a report of a missing Bering Air caravan. There were ten people on board and aircraft was in route from Unalakleet to Nome.
“We are currently doing an active ground search from Nome and from White Mountain and have as much up to date information on the event as possible. Due to weather and visibility, we are limited on air search at the current time. National Guard and Coast Guard and Troopers have been notified and are active in the search. Norton Sound Health Corporation is standing by.
“We ask the public to please think of those who may be missing at this time, but due to weather and safety concerns please do not form individual search parties. Families are encouraged to seek support at Norton Sound Health Corporation.”
The plane has been officially reported as “overdue“, meaning it is yet to be classified as a crash or accident. However, medics are currently on standby in anticipation of a possible crash scenario.