A commuter plane crash off the coast of Alaska in February 2025, which resulted in the deaths of all 10 individuals on board, was influenced by the operator's history of flying overweight planes and insufficient oversight from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), according to a report released Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The NTSB determined that the pilot of the Bering Air flight did not maintain adequate airspeed, potentially due to efforts to manage the plane's ice protection system while approaching Nome. The aircraft was also found to be overweight for operations in icy conditions, with the airport having temporarily closed its runways for de-icing at the time.
Federal investigators identified a pattern of underreported weights on Bering Air's flight manifests and instances of flights exceeding weight limits. The NTSB stated that the FAA failed to recognize the air carrier's significant operational complexity and rapid growth following the pandemic and the bankruptcy of a competitor, which warranted increased oversight.
"This tragedy was not the result of a single failure, but a series of preventable breakdowns that eroded critical safety margins," NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said in a statement.
The plane was on a scheduled commuter route from Unalakleet to Nome, a journey of approximately 150 miles. The wreckage was later recovered from a drifting ice floe about 30 miles southeast of Nome.
In response to the findings, the NTSB has recommended enhanced pilot training for charter and air taxi operators on preventing and recovering from loss of control in flight. The agency also reiterated prior recommendations, including the expanded use of flight data monitoring programs and more comprehensive load manifest requirements.
Bering Air has not yet commented on the report. The FAA stated that it "takes NTSB recommendations seriously and will carefully review them."