A frantic search has begun as an aeroplane with 10 people onboard has msyteriously vanished mid-air.

With nine passengers and one pilot on board, the Bering Air Caravan plane had been reported as "overdue" as it flew over Alaska, US, heading to Nome where it had been due to land at 4pm local time. The Coast Guard has said it was 12 miles offshore when its position was lost.

Nome Volunteer Fire Department said in a statement: "We are currently responding to a report of a missing Bering Air caravan.

"We are doing an active ground search from Nome and from White Mountain. Due to weather and visibility, we are limited on air search at the current time.

"National Guard and Coast Guard and Troopers have been notified and are active in the search. Norton Sound Health Corporation is standing by."

The plane had been traveling from the small coastal region Unalakleet, found at the western end of Alaska.

Meanwhile local authorities are warning people not to attempt to carry out their own search parties amid the extreme weather conditions despite fears the plane may have come down.

The department added: "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.

"Families are encouraged to seek support at Norton Sound Health Corporation."

The last known contact the pilot had with authorities wwas when he told Anchorage Air Traffic Control that he was planning to "enter a holding pattern" as he waited for the runway to be cleared.

Emergency rescue teams are desperately trying to track down the planes final coordinates, but the treacherous weather conditions make air searches extremely difficult.

The coastguard has despatched a plane loaded with specialised kit that can search for "objects and people through no visibility conditions" and it will carry out a "grid pattern search" over the shoreline and water.

The US Coast Guard Twitter account for the Alaska maritime region tweeted: "U.S. Coast Guard District 17 responded to an aircraft emergency notification from Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at 4:30 p.m. today for a Cessna Caravan that reported to have 10 people aboard.

" An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station kodiak to search their last known position. The aircraft was 12 miles offshore transiting from Unalakleet to Nome when its position was lost. More information to follow as it becomes available."

The latest emergency situayion comes under two weeks after , killing 67 people.

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