What Happened in the Fatal Alaska Plane Crash That Killed 10?

How Are Investigators Racing Against Time to Recover Wreckage from Bering Sea Ice?

The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched nine investigators to Anchorage on February 8 to probe the crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan that claimed all ten lives aboard. The aircraft wreckage, discovered by the U.S. Coast Guard on a moving ice floe in the Bering Sea, continues to drift approximately five miles per day, complicating recovery efforts. Two of the victims were identified as Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium employees who had been servicing a local water treatment facility. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy warned that deteriorating weather conditions threaten to hamper the investigation.

5 Key Points

• The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan lost radar contact at 3:30 PM local time on February 6 while flying from Unalakleet to Nome.
• Coast Guard divers located the severely damaged aircraft 34 miles from shore on a drifting ice floe.
• All ten people aboard, including nine passengers and one pilot, perished in the crash.
• ANTHC employees Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson were among the victims.
• The crash investigation faces urgent time pressure due to approaching severe weather.

Why Did the Coast Guard Face Challenges in Locating the Wreckage?

The U.S. Coast Guard’s search operation battled harsh Bering Sea conditions throughout the 48-hour search period. Divers reached the crash site on February 7, finding the aircraft wreckage largely inaccessible due to catastrophic damage. The location, 34 miles from shore on drifting sea ice, forced recovery teams to adapt their typical rescue protocols. Coast Guard officials reported the wreckage moves northward at five miles per day, while NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy emphasized the operation’s urgency, stating, “We do have a short window, bad weather is coming in.”

How Did Weather Conditions Impact the Flight?

The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan departed Unalakleet Airport on February 6 for what should have been a routine 100-mile flight to Nome, located south of the Arctic Circle. However, at 3:30 PM local time, air traffic controllers lost radar contact with the aircraft over the Bering Sea. The flight path crossed waters known for rapidly changing winter weather patterns and dangerous ice conditions. The NTSB investigation will examine whether these conditions contributed to the crash.

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Who Were the Victims Working to Serve Remote Communities?

The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium identified two victims as utility operations specialists, Rhone Baumgartner and Kameron Hartvigson. Both men had traveled to Unalakleet to maintain the community’s water treatment facility. ANTHC interim president and CEO Natasha Singh praised their dedication: “They were passionate about the work they did, cared deeply for the communities they served, and made a lasting impact on rural communities across our state.” The names of the other eight victims, including the pilot, await release pending family notifications.

What Broader Aviation Safety Questions Does This Crash Raise?

The Alaska crash marks the third major U.S. aviation disaster in February 2025. The NTSB currently investigates a midair collision between a passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people. Investigators also examine a Philadelphia medical jet crash that claimed seven lives. These incidents have prompted a renewed focus on aviation safety measures, particularly regarding flights in challenging weather conditions and remote locations.