Rescue teams are actively searching for a Bering Air aircraft that went missing Thursday afternoon during its flight to a coastal town in Alaska, with ten people on board, officials reported.

The Cessna Caravan, a small turboprop plane carrying nine passengers and a pilot, was last heard from around 4 p.m. local time on Thursday, according to the Alaska Department of Public Safety. Efforts are underway to determine the aircraft’s last known location.

The plane was traveling from Unalakleet to Nome, which are both situated along Alaska’s western coastline, as noted by the department.

Before it disappeared, the Nome Volunteer Fire Department stated that the pilot informed Anchorage Air Traffic Control of his plans to hold in the air while waiting for the runway to be cleared. The U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska indicated that the aircraft was about 12 miles offshore when its signals were lost.

The fire department confirmed that teams are conducting ground searches from Nome and White Mountain, both located in the Nome Census Area on the southern Seward Peninsula.

Additionally, the National Guard and Coast Guard have joined the ongoing search efforts. Norton Sound Health Corporation, a tribally owned nonprofit health organization, has expressed readiness “to assist with any medical emergencies that may arise in the community.”

Initially, air search operations faced challenges due to weather conditions and low visibility, as per the fire department. However, just before 8 p.m., they reported the arrival of an HC-130 Coast Guard aircraft in the Nome area.

“The plane will not be landing, but will fly in a grid pattern over the water and along the shoreline to try and locate the missing aircraft,” the fire department stated. “It is equipped with advanced search and rescue technology that helps to find objects and individuals even in poor visibility.”

‘We urge the public to keep those missing in their thoughts’

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has noted that Alaska experiences a higher frequency of accidents involving air taxis and commuter flights compared to other states in the U.S.

Alaska is recognized for its rugged landscapes and unpredictable weather. Many villages in the state lack road access, which makes small aircraft essential for transportation of both people and goods.

Bering Air operates around 39 planes and helicopters in the region, according to data from flight tracking service FlightRadar24. Earlier on Thursday night, the fire department announced that Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage is also providing aerial support.

“We urge the public to keep those missing in their thoughts during this time, but due to weather and safety issues, we ask that individual search parties do not form,” the fire department advised. “Families are encouraged to reach out for support through Norton Sound Health Corporation.”

Recent Aviation Incidents in the U.S.

The incident on Thursday adds to a string of aviation events across the U.S. in recent weeks, including two deadly crashes at the end of January. Other events have also been reported at major airports in Chicago, Seattle, and Houston, as previously mentioned by YSL News.

Most recently, on Saturday, an airport worker sustained critical injuries when a passenger aircraft collided with a tug at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The day after, a United Airlines flight traveling from Houston to New York encountered engine problems and had to be evacuated.

On Wednesday morning, a Delta Air Lines plane parked at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was struck by a taxiing Japan Airlines aircraft, but thankfully no injuries were reported.

On January 29, a collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., tragically resulted in the deaths of 67 people, marking the most devastating air disaster in over twenty years. Just a few days later, a Medevac jet crashed in a populated neighborhood of Philadelphia, claiming seven lives and injuring more than 20 others.

(This story has been updated with the latest information.)

Contributing: Reuters