On February 8, authorities confirmed that all 10 victims of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan crash in the Bering Sea had been identified, despite the wreckage drifting on an ice floe near Nome, Alaska. Time was crucial as weather conditions were deteriorating.
The Nome Volunteer Fire Department announced the recovery of all individuals in a Facebook post. The victims were retrieved through a joint effort involving the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, and other agencies.
A team of nine National Transportation Safety Board investigators arrived in Anchorage to determine the cause of the crash. The NTSB Chair, Jennifer Homendy, shared that radar contact was lost as the plane was en route from Unalakleet to Nome.
Efforts focused on victim recovery before dealing with the wreckage. Homendy expressed condolences to the families and assured a thorough investigation. The Coast Guard's recovery process involved divers, but the damaged aircraft was challenging to access.
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium disclosed that two passengers were employees working on a water plant project in Unalakleet. The agency praised their dedication to community service.
This incident coincided with ongoing NTSB investigations into recent air tragedies in Washington, D.C., involving a passenger jet and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.