It is devastating news.
A tragic plane crash in Alaska claimed the lives of all ten people on board, including nine passengers and one pilot. The small aircraft, traveling from Unalakleet to Nome, disappeared on Thursday and was found crashed the following day. The Alaska Department of Public Safety confirmed that there were no survivors. Authorities were able to identify all the victims after their bodies were recovered and transported to Nome.
Among the deceased were the pilot, Chad Antill, along with several passengers from various parts of Alaska. Two of the passengers were employees of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, traveling for work related to the maintenance of Unalakleet’s water plant. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other agencies are now focused on investigating the cause of the crash, following the completion of recovery efforts.
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that three bodies were found inside the wreckage, while the remaining seven were believed to be trapped in inaccessible parts of the aircraft. Coast Guard officials stated that the wreckage’s condition made survival impossible. The plane had experienced a rapid loss of elevation and speed shortly after takeoff, which led to the fatal crash 34 miles southeast of Nome.
Alaska officials, including Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, expressed their condolences to the families and communities affected by the tragedy. They also praised the responders who braved difficult conditions to search for the plane. The close-knit nature of Alaskan communities has made the loss deeply felt throughout the state, with officials vowing to support those mourning the victims.
