Wreckage of missing plane found in Alaska, all 10 people dead

(CLO) The US Coast Guard in Alaska found the wreckage of a small plane on sea ice on Friday, after it suddenly lost altitude on Thursday and crashed, killing all 10 people on board.

Two Coast Guard rescuers arrived at the scene and found three bodies inside the wreckage, while seven people were believed to be still trapped inside, Coast Guard spokesman Mike Salerno said at a news conference.

"Unfortunately, this appears to be an accident with no survivors," Salerno said.

Rescuers approach the wreckage of the crashed plane. Photo: BNO

Clint Johnson, chief of the Alaska office of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), confirmed that all 10 people on board were killed.

Severe winter weather conditions have hampered the search, and officials say it could take hours or even days to remove the bodies from the remote area.

The plane's wreckage was found about 34 miles (55 kilometers) southeast of Nome, according to the Coast Guard.

The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, carrying a pilot and nine passengers, went missing around 4 p.m. local time Thursday while flying from Unalakleet to Nome, according to a statement on the Alaska State Patrol website. Nome is more than 500 miles (805 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage.

The Coast Guard said the plane went missing while flying about 12 miles (19 km) off the coast over the frozen waters of Norton Sound, part of the Bering Sea.

According to Officer Benjamin McIntyre-Coble of the Coast Guard in Alaska, radar data showed the plane had lost altitude and speed suddenly, but the specific cause has not been determined. Officials said the weather was very bad at the time, with harsh winter conditions in the area where the plane crashed.

The victims' families have been notified, but their identities have not been released. The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of the US aviation industry over flight safety.

Cao Phong (according to CNN, BNO, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tim-thay-xac-may-bay-mat-tich-o-alaska-ca-10-nguoi-thiet-mang-post333582.html