All 10 Passengers in Missing Alaska Plane Identified: Authorities

All of the passengers aboard the Bering Air flight that went missing on Thursday and later crashed have been recovered and identified by the Alaskan authorities.

The Context

This incident marks the third major aviation accident in the United States in just over a week, raising fresh concerns about flight safety as investigators work to determine what caused the crash.

What To Know

The single-engine Cessna Caravan aircraft, operated by Bering Air, initially vanished from radar Thursday afternoon while en route from Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska. The wreckage was found on Friday in the Bering Sea after an extensive search effort involving local, state, and federal agencies.

The Alaska Coast Guard found the crashed plane on Friday, about 34 miles southeast of Nome. On Saturday afternoon, a team of pararescue people recovered the victims and transported their bodies to Nome for identification by Alaska state troopers.

The victims of the crash are:

• Chad Antill (34), pilot
• Liane Ryan (52)
• Donnell Erickson (58)
• Andrew Gonzalez (30)
• Kameron Hartvigson (41)
• Rhone Baumgartner (46)
• Jadee Moncur (52)
• Ian Hofmann (45)
• Talaluk Katchatag (34)
• Carol Mooers (48)

All the victims are Alaskan residents, hailing from Nome, Wasilla, Anchorage, Unalakleet, and Eagle River. Their families have been notified and the Alaska state troopers said all of the bodies will be transported to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Anchorage for autopsies.

Kameron Hartvigson and Rhone Baumgartner were employees of Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium who traveled to Unalakleet to service a heat recovery system essential to the community's water plant, the nonprofit said on Friday evening.

A GoFundMe page for Talaluk Katchatag "TK", started by his sister AyyuSue Katchatag has raised over $13,000 from 164 people for funeral costs as of Sunday afternoon. His sister described him as "soft spoken, wise beyond his years, very strong man. Not only strong in stature, but in mind, and spirit. His soul was genuine, and he lived life so matter of factly."

Air travel is crucial for many Alaskans who live in more rural communities, as roads are often not an option for transportation, particularly during the winter months given weather conditions and the vast terrain.

What We Know as Investigators Probe Cause of the Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a probe into the crash, deploying nine investigators on the ground, along with dozens supporting in Washington D.C., NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said at a Saturday news conference.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, early radar data analyzed by the U.S. Civil Air Patrol suggests the plane experienced a rapid loss of altitude and speed before impact. However, the cause remains unknown.

Per the Associated Press, Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Benjamin McIntyre-Coble reported that no emergency distress signals were received from the aircraft, raising further questions about what led to the tragedy.

What People Are Saying

Senator Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican, wrote on X on Saturday: "Our hearts are broken for the families and loved ones lost on the Bering Air flight. We are a big family in Alaska and this tragedy touches us all. We are also deeply grateful for the rescue teams who did heroic work in dangerous conditions and for the federal officials—including the Chair of the NTSB, who is in Alaska today to coordinate the federal response, and the Secretary of Transportation, who committed to me to provide all resources necessary. Again, our deepest prayers are with families of those lost and their communities."

Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, wrote on X on Friday: "My heart is broken over the news out of Nome. Alaska is a big small town. When tragedy strikes, we're never far removed from the Alaskans directly impacted. But that also means we come together as a community to grieve and heal. We are deeply grateful to the Alaska National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Nome Volunteer Fire Department, the Alaska State Troopers, and all those who braved dangerous conditions to conduct the search for the downed aircraft. All of Alaska is praying for the families and friends of those who lost loved ones, for the Bering Air family, and the communities of Unalakleet and Nome."

Nome Volunteer Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday: "All ten individuals aboard the Bering Air plane have been officially brought home to Nome. Nome SAR efforts stand by for our Bering Air crew to complete their aircraft recovery operations. We thank the Airforce for their main role in the recovery efforts for the sake of our community team."

Kelsi Ivanoff, the city administrator of Unalakleet, told local news outlet WIFR on Saturday: "Unalakleet's no stranger to losing community members to plane wrecks. And I know this hits really close to home for our community.

What Happens Next?

The investigation into the cause of the plane crash is ongoing. Memorial services for the passengers are expected to be announced soon.