A small aircraft that disappeared while en route to Nome, Alaska, was found crashed on sea ice Friday, with all 10 individuals aboard confirmed dead, authorities reported.

The Bering Air single-engine turboprop plane, a Cessna Caravan, departed from Unalakleet on Thursday afternoon carrying nine passengers and a pilot. It lost contact with officials less than an hour into the journey.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the wreckage was discovered approximately 30 miles southeast of Nome and 12 miles offshore. A rescue team conducting aerial searches located the crash site and deployed rescue swimmers to investigate.

Radar data from the U.S. Civil Air Patrol revealed that around 3:18 p.m., the aircraft experienced a rapid drop in altitude and speed. However, no distress signal was transmitted before impact. The Coast Guard noted that emergency transmitters, which activate upon exposure to seawater, did not send any alert.

Weather conditions at the time included light snow and fog, with temperatures around 17 degrees Fahrenheit (-8.3°C), according to the National Weather Service.

All passengers were adults, and the flight was part of Bering Air’s scheduled commuter service. The airline operates routes across western Alaska, where many communities rely on air travel due to the lack of road connections.

The tragic incident marks the third major aviation accident in the U.S. within eight days. The previous crashes involved a commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter collision near Washington, D.C., and a medical transport plane crash in Philadelphia.

Alaska’s congressional delegation expressed condolences to the victims’ families, while Nome residents planned prayer vigils to honor those lost in the crash.