New maps appear to show the last known location of a Bering Air flight before it disappeared while flying in Alaska.
The plane, travelling from Unalakleet to Nome was carrying 10 people when it failed to land at 4pm on Tursday as scheduled, prompting an urgent hunt.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Alaska State Troopers are trying to pinpoint the plane’s last known coodinates after it lost contact with flight tracking system Flightradar24.
Radar maps from the website appear to show the plane made it most of the way to Nome – the closest major settlement to where it vanished. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department is now searching the local area, but facing difficulties due to poor visibility.
It said: “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 was reported as “overdue” as it hasn’t yet been classified as a crash or accident, but medics are on standby in case this changes.
The Coast Guard added that the plane 12 miles offshore when its position was lost. It wrote on X: “US Coast Guard District 17 responded to an aircraft emergency notification from Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at 4:30pm today for a Cessna Caravan that reported to have 10 people aboard.
“An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Kodiak to search their last known position. The aircraft was 12 miles offshore transiting from Unalakleet to Nome when its position was lost. More information to follow as it becomes available.”
The last known contact the pilot had with authorities was when he told Anchorage Air Traffic Control that he was planning to “enter a holding pattern” as he waited for the runway to be cleared.