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Crews are currently working to recover the bodies of 10 individuals who tragically lost their lives in a plane crash in Alaska, according to officials.

During a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, mentioned that the investigation into the crash is still in its early stages and that it is premature to determine the cause.

The Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft, operated by regional carrier Bering Air, was en route from Unalakleet to Nome when it lost radar contact. The crash occurred approximately 34 miles (55km) southeast of Nome, a city of about 3,500 residents on Alaska's west coast.

The passengers, including Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, were traveling to Unalakleet for water plant maintenance.

Homendy informed that there are nine investigators at the crash site, supported by specialists in Washington DC. She extended her deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

The recovery operation is facing challenges due to worsening weather conditions, with the wreckage resting on an ice floe moving at a speed of five miles a day.

Bering Air, the commercial and charter flight operator, expressed condolences and pledged full cooperation with the crash investigation.

Alaska State Troopers were notified about the overdue aircraft at 16:00 local time on Thursday (01:00 GMT). The Nome volunteer fire department reported that the pilot communicated his intention to enter a holding pattern while waiting for clearance to land.

The US Coast Guard confirmed that the aircraft experienced a sudden drop in altitude and speed before communication was lost. Videos from the area displayed low visibility around the time of the accident.

Following the tragedy, Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski and Governor Mike Dunleavy expressed their sympathies, emphasizing solidarity with the affected passengers, pilot, and their families.

Unalakleet and Nome are separated by about 150 miles across Norton Sound, an inlet of the Bering Sea along Alaska's western coast.