Major search underway for plane that vanished mid-flight

The search is ongoing.

The Bering Air flight left Unalakleet in Alaska at 2.37pm on Thursday heading for Noma, however just an hour later all contact with the aircraft was lost.

Sky News report that officials are currently trying to confirm the plane's last known position, however the coast guard have said that the plane was 12 miles off shore as it flew over Norton Sound.

Posting to Facebook, Nome's fire department wrote: "We are currently doing an active ground search from Nome and from White Mountain.

"We ask the public to please think of those who may be missing at this time, but due to weather and safety concerns please do not form individual search parties."

The Alaskan National Guard and Coast Guard are also engaged in the search for the plane that seemed to disappear without a trace.

At the time of writing the plane is officially reported as 'overdue' and has not yet been classified as an accident or crash.