Authorities search for plane carrying 10 people after it never landed where it was supposed to

Officials are searching for a plane that went missing yesterday after contact was lost less than an hour after take off.

The Bering Air flight, which was travelling across Alaska’s Norton Sound south of the Arctic Circle, went missing on Thursday afternoon (6 February) and rescuers searched into the night for any sign of the aircraft.

Authorities are now working to determine the Bering Air Caravan's last known coordinates.

It was heading from Unalakleet to Nome with nine passengers and a pilot, according to Alaska’s Department of Public Safety.

The flight lost contact less than an hour in (X/@flightradar24)

The Cessna Caravan left Unalakleet at 2.37pm, and officials lost contact with it less than an hour later, according to David Olson, director of operations for Bering Air. The aircraft was 12 miles (19km) off shore, according to the US Coast Guard.

"Staff at Bering Air are working hard to gather details, get emergency assistance, search and rescue going," Mr Olson said.

Taking to Facebook, the Nome Volunteer Fire Department wrote that it is 'limited on air search' due to weather and visibility.

It added: "We are currently doing an active ground search from Nome and from White Mountain.

"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."

Teams are currently working to find out the plane's last known coordinates, as a Coast Guard plane with special equipment was deployed in the area to carry out a 'grid pattern search' over the water and shoreline, as it can 'locate objects and people through no visibility conditions'.

Norton Sound Health Corporation has issued a statement following the news.

It said: "Norton Sound Health Corporation is standing ready to respond to a community medical emergency.

"A family centre is accepting family members and loved ones in the Norton Sound Regional Hospital’s third floor conference room."

Alaskan Senator Dan Sullivan has since also issued a statement on Thursday night, writing on Facebook: "We are hearing reports of a possible missing plane en route to Nome.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, their families and the rescue crew."

The disappearance marks the third major incident in US aviation in eight days.

The plane was heading to Nome, Alaska (Getty stock photo)

A commercial jetliner and an army helicopter collided near the nation’s capital on last week (29 January), killing 67 people.

The American Airlines jet, which was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was landing at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it was struck by a Sikorsky H-60 military helicopter carrying three soldiers on a training flight.

And on 31 January, a medical transport jet with six people on board crashed into a Philadelphia neighbourhood.

The air ambulance was carrying a Mexican child who had been treated in the US city for a life threatening condition and was being flown home to Mexico.

Jet Rescue Air Ambulance said the child and her mother were on board along with four other crew members, all of whom are from Mexico.

LADbible Group has reached out to Bering Air for further comment.

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