February 8, 2025: The wreckage of a missing plane carrying 10 people was discovered on sea ice off the coast of Alaska, with three bodies found inside, authorities confirmed on Friday.

The single-engine turboprop Cessna Caravan, operated by Bering Air, was traveling from Unalakleet to Nome on Thursday afternoon when it lost contact with air traffic control less than an hour into its flight. The U.S. Coast Guard said the plane was last reported about 48 kilometers southeast of Nome and was later located 19 kilometers offshore.

Rescuers searching the area by helicopter spotted the wreckage and deployed two rescue swimmers to investigate, according to Coast Guard spokesperson Mike Salerno. "Right now, we just know that there's three," said Cameron Snell, another Coast Guard official, noting that crews have not been able to fully access the aircraft.

The Alaska Department of Public Safety confirmed that all 10 people aboard the aircraft were adults, including nine passengers and the pilot. The flight was a regularly scheduled commuter trip.

Radar forensic data from the U.S. Civil Air Patrol indicated that at approximately 3:18 p.m. on Thursday, the aircraft experienced a "rapid loss in elevation and a rapid loss in speed." The cause of this sudden descent remains unknown. Coast Guard Lt. Commander Benjamin McIntyre-Coble said no distress signals were received from the plane’s emergency locator transmitter, which is designed to send alerts if exposed to seawater.

Weather conditions at the time included light snow and fog, with temperatures at 17°F (-8.3°C), according to the National Weather Service.

Search and recovery efforts are ongoing as officials work to determine the fate of the remaining passengers and the cause of the incident.