08
Feb
Feb
DEADLY PLANE CRASH IN ALASKA CLAIMS 10 LIVES AS CREWS RACE TO RECOVER REMAINS AND WRECKAGE
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Nicolas Adekeye / 4 weeks
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- 2 min read
A small commuter plane carrying 10 people, including nine passengers and a pilot, crashed in western Alaska, killing everyone on board. The Bering Air single-engine turboprop plane was traveling from Unalakleet to Nome when it disappeared on Thursday afternoon. An extensive search effort was launched, and the wreckage was found the next day on unstable sea ice. Crews worked swiftly to recover the bodies and the wreckage, racing against time as bad weather was expected to hit the area. “The conditions out there are dynamic, so we’ve got to do it safely in the fastest way we can,” said Jim West, chief of the Nome Volunteer Fire Department. Beveridge Among those killed in the crash were Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson, who had traveled to Unalakleet to service a heat recovery system vital to the community’s water plant. “These two members of our team lost their lives serving others,” said David Beveridge, vice president of environmental health & engineering for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The cause of the crash is still unknown, but radar data indicated that the plane experienced a rapid loss of elevation and speed before disappearing. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident. The crash marks one of the deadliest plane crashes in Alaska in 25 years. Flying is an essential mode of transportation in Alaska, and the loss of life has sent shockwaves throughout the community. “It’s hard to accept the reality of our loss,” said U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Nome Mayor John Handeland choked up as he discussed the deaths and the response effort. “Nome is a strong community, and in challenging times we come together and support each other. I expect the outpouring of support to continue in the coming days as we all work to recover from this tragic incident,” he said.