A missing plane in Alaska has been found in a wreckage.
Less than 24 hours after a Bering Air plane carrying 10 people disappeared from radar after leaving Unalakleet, Alaska, the Cessna aircraft was found crashed 34 miles from its destination of Nome, the United States Coast Guard confirmed in a statement.
"#USCG has ended its search for the missing plane," the Coast Guard wrote on X (formerly Twitter) Feb. 7, "after the aircraft was located approx. 34 miles southeast of Nome."
And though only three of the 10 passengers were found dead inside the wreckage, per the maritime military branch, there are believed to be no survivors from the caravan, which had been traveling over the North Sound on its way to Nome but never arrived.
"The remaining 7 people are believed to be inside the aircraft but are currently inaccessible due to the condition of the plane," the statement continued. "Our heartfelt condolences are with those affected by this tragic incident."
The aircraft took off from Unalakeet at 2:37 p.m. local time. Less than two hours later, Alaska State Troopers were notified of an "overdue aircraft," whose last known position was 12 miles offshore at 3:16 p.m., per KTTU.
An investigation into the missing plane began shortly after, with local officials noting that both a ground and air search were underway in Alaska, despite challenging conditions.
"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," the Nome Volunteer Fire Department wrote in an update on Facebook at the time. "Due to weather and visibility, we are limited on air search at the current time."
And while the department understood the public's concern, they urged anyone who wasn't part of the official search to stay home.
"We ask the public to please think of those who may be missing at this time," the department continued, "but due to weather and safety concerns please do not form individual search parties."
Additionally, White Mountain fire chief Jack Adams emphasized that the investigation was a top priority for the department.
"They’re prepared to be out all night," he told KTTU's Alaska's News Source. "They will search here until they find them or somebody else finds them."