The US Coast Guard Alaska has issued a statement following the discovery of a missing Bering Air plane.
Authorities have now confirmed that the missing aircraft – which was carrying ten people – has been found, approximately 34 miles southeast of Nome, with no survivors.
The plane had vanished on Thursday while flying through a storm in rural Alaska, and rescue teams are now scrambling to recover the remains of all ten victims before a looming storm complicates efforts.
Authorities have also now identified two of the victims as employees of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC).
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the crash, which marks the third major air disaster in the U.S. this year, following accidents in Washington D.C. and Philadelphia.
The US Coast Guard Alaska have released the following statement following the plane’s discovery:
“The Coast Guard ended its search for a missing aircraft with 10 people aboard after it was located Friday afternoon approximately 34 miles southeast of Nome.
“A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew located the aircraft wreckage and lowered two rescue swimmers down to the aircraft. The rescue swimmers located three individuals in the forward part of the aircraft showing no signs of life. The remaining seven people are believed to be inside the aircraft, which was inaccessible due to the condition of the plane. The Coast Guard determined the severity of the wreckage was beyond the possibility of survival.
“‘Our heartfelt condolences go out to all those impacted by this tragic event during this unimaginably difficult time,’ said Lt. Matthew Fenstermacher, the command duty officer at the 17th Coast Guard District.
“On-scene weather at the time of the accident was 29-35 mph winds and snowing with two miles of visibility.
Other figures have also spoken out, including Senator Lisa Murkowski. She wrote in a tweet: “My heart is broken over the news out of Nome.
“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. We are deeply grateful to the Alaska National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Nome Volunteer Fire Department, the Alaska State Troopers, and all those who braved dangerous conditions to conduct the search for the downed aircraft.
“All of Alaska is praying for the families and friends of those who lost loved ones, for the Bering Air family, and the communities of Unalakleet and Nome.”
Additionally, Sen. Dan Sullivan wrote: Julie, my team, and I join all Alaskans in praying for those missing on the flight from Unalakleet to Nome, their families and the communities.
“This morning, I spoke to Jennifer Homendy, the Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and I suggested that she travel to Alaska, and to her credit, she’s doing that this weekend. While there, she’ll be facilitating the work of investigators, and importantly, coordinating with the NTSB’s Transportation Disaster Assistance Division to make sure families and friends of people on the plane get the help they need. Also, my team and I are monitoring the situation closely and stand ready to provide any assistance that may be needed.
“Again, our prayers are with the missing, their families, and the rescue teams on the ground who are doing heroic work in very difficult weather conditions.”
Among those presumed dead are Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson, both employed in utility operations for ANTHC. The organization confirmed the pair had traveled to Unalakleet to service a heating system at a water plant.
“Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson were passionate about the work they did, cared deeply for the communities they served, and made a lasting impact on rural communities across our state,” ANTHC interim president Natasha Singh said in a statement to Alaska’s News Source.
“They gave the ultimate sacrifice for the people we serve in the work we do,” she continued. “Everyone at ANTHC feels a sense of shock and loss because they were so crucial to our Rural Energy and Tribal Support teams. My thoughts are with their families, the people who worked alongside them day in and day out, and for everyone else who lost a loved one today.”
As investigators piece together what caused the crash.
Our thoughts go out to go out to every person impacted by this tragedy.
