New York: Search operation is underway after an American aircraft carrying 10 people went missing over Alaska within an hour of taking off from Unalakleet. According to an AP report, the plane went missing on Thursday. The aircraft disappeared in rural Alaska amid dangerous winter weather conditions.
According to Alaska’s Department of Public Safety, the Bering Air Caravan was reported missing during its flight from Unalakleet to Nome. The aircraft had nine passengers and a pilot on board, reports stated. The two cities are nearly 235 kilometres apart. The cities are separated by the Norton Sound.
Unalakleet is home to a small community of about 690 people. Further details are awaited about the outcome of the search operation. “Due to weather and visibility, we are limited on air search at the current time,” Nome Volunteer Fire Departmen mentioned in a statement, as quoted by AP.
The rescue operation is being carried out in collaboration with US Coast Guard personnel, the National Guard and troopers.