TRAGIC

All 10 Passengers on Missing Plane in Alaska Confirmed Dead

The small commuter plane bound for Nome crashed on Feb. 7.

Officials from the Alaska Department of Public Safety announced on Saturday that all 10 people—nine passengers and the pilot—onboard the small passenger plane that went missing and was later found to have crashed in Alaska on Feb. 7 have been confirmed dead. The plane had been traveling from Unalakleet to Nome on Thursday when it went missing. The crash site was found by officials 34 miles southeast of Nome on Friday. Alaska State Troopers have positively identified all 10 victims, and their remains have been recovered and transported to Nome. All of the victims were residents of Alaska, including 34-year-old pilot Chad Antill, who lived in Nome. The passengers ranged in age from 30 to 58 years old. Radar analysis showed that 40 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft “experienced some kind of event which caused them to experience a rapid loss in elevation and a rapid loss in speed,” according to a statement given by Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin McIntyre-Coble at a news briefing on Friday.