A routine flight over Alaska’s remote wilderness took a tragic turn when a small passenger plane disappeared from radar. The plane, which had 10 people on board, failed to reach its destination. Days later, search crews made a heartbreaking discovery.

A small passenger plane that disappeared over Alaska’s Bering Sea has been found after an extensive search. The aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan operated by Bering Air, was carrying 10 people, including the pilot, when it vanished Thursday afternoon near Nome.

Authorities quickly launched a search, combing the coastline for any sign of the missing plane. On Friday, several agencies gave an update, saying that a search aircraft had found an “item of interest” linked to the missing flight.

The Cessna left Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m., heading to Nome, according to Bering Air’s Director of Operations, David Olson. FlightRadar showed the plane’s last known position at 3:16 p.m. over Norton Sound before it disappeared from radar.

Rescue crews, including the Nome Volunteer Fire Department and local search teams, focused their efforts along a 30-mile stretch between Nome and Topkok. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) later confirmed the plane’s location about 34 miles southeast of Nome.

The USCG posted on social media that its search had ended and confirmed that three people were found dead in the wreckage. The remaining seven passengers were believed to still be inside the plane, but they were unreachable due to the wreckage’s condition. The USCG offered condolences to the victims’ families and all affected by the tragedy.

Rescue teams are now working to assess the wreckage and plan the next steps for recovering the remaining passengers. Before the wreckage was found, search teams faced harsh conditions as they searched Alaska’s difficult terrain for the plane.

White Mountain Fire Chief Jack Adams confirmed that the aircraft had disappeared from radar and that crews were searching a 30-mile area, determined to continue until they found answers.

“They’re prepared to be out all night,” Adams said. “They will search until they find them or someone else does. If nothing is found, we’ll probably call in more crews to help.”

The terrain was difficult to navigate. With the sea ice in a chaotic state, ground crews relied on the Iditarod Trail to move safely. Adams hoped the plane had landed on solid ground, saying, “Being in the water would be the worst-case scenario.”

Alaska State Troopers were informed of the missing plane at around 4 p.m. by the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center. Ground teams from Nome and White Mountain were already searching, but bad weather and poor visibility slowed down aerial efforts.

An FAA weather camera in Nome showed nearly whiteout conditions during the crucial afternoon, making the search even harder.

Lt. Cmdr. Ben McIntyre-Coble from the U.S. Coast Guard said radar data showed the plane suddenly lost both altitude and speed at 3:18 p.m., indicating a possible emergency in midair.

The Coast Guard quickly responded to the emergency alert at 4:30 p.m. and sent an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Kodiak to track the plane’s last known location. The plane had been 12 miles offshore when it suddenly disappeared.

As authorities continued to investigate the crash, news of the tragedy shocked the local community. Many people, including Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, expressed their condolences on social media.

“Rose and I are heartbroken by the loss of the 10 people on the Bering Air flight,” Dunleavy wrote. “Our prayers are with the families, friends, and communities affected by this tragedy.”

He also thanked the search teams for their hard work. “We are grateful for their tireless efforts to find the aircraft. I ask all Alaskans to keep those affected in their thoughts and prayers.”

As families mourn the loss of their loved ones, officials have pledged to continue investigating the cause of the crash.