The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed that all 10 aboard missing Alaska Plane are presumed dead.
This report was made after the the wreckage of Bering Air Flight 445, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan was located by the U.S. Coast Guard on sea ice 34 miles southeast of Nome, Alaska,
Three bodies were visible in the mangled debris, while the remaining seven victims remained trapped inside due to the aircraft’s severe damage .
Timeline of Bering Air Flight 445’s Disappearance
The plane departed Unalakleet Airport at 2:38 PM AKST on February 6, 2025, en route to Nome, a 147-mile commuter flight vital for rural Alaskan connectivity.
Radar data revealed a sudden rapid loss of altitude and speed at 3:18 PM, with the aircraft descending from 7,700 feet to 5,300 feet before vanishing from tracking systems .
Search and Rescue Efforts and Challenges in Harsh Alaskan Conditions
Search teams—including the U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska Air National Guard, and Nome Volunteer Fire Department—faced heavy snow, low visibility, and subzero temperatures, delaying recovery efforts . A Coast Guard C-130 and helicopters scoured the Norton Sound, while the FBI aided with cellphone geolocation analysis .
It has been reported that the plane’s emergency locator beacon (ELT) failed to activate, complicating search efforts. Note that ELTs typically trigger upon contact with seawater, but no distress signals were transmitted.
Two victims, Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson, were engineers with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, traveling to repair a heating system in Unalakleet . The nonprofit praised their dedication to rural communities.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and Senator Lisa Murkowski have expressed grief on social media, emphasizing the tight-knit Alaskan community’s resilience. Nome’s City Administrator noted the region’s tragic familiarity with plane crashes .
Investigation into the Cause of the Crash
Not long after the air crash, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an investigation, with Chair Jennifer Homendy traveling to Alaska. Clint Johnson, NTSB’s Alaska chief, stated the focus is on the sudden altitude drop, weather conditions, and mechanical factors .
Historical Context of Bering Air’s Safety Record
Bering Air, operating since 1979, had a spotless safety record prior to this crash. The airline specializes in remote Alaskan routes, often the only lifeline for villages inaccessible by road .
Third Major US Aviation Disaster in 10 Days
This crash follows a January 29 midair collision near Washington, D.C. (67 fatalities) and a January 31 medical jet crash in Philadelphia (7 deaths), raising concerns about possible oversights in aviation safety.
Over 80% of Alaskan communities depend on small planes like Bering Air’s fleet for essentials such as food, fuel, and medical supplies, highlighting rural aviation’s critical role.
