Russell Santema Missing Person Case

Nov 09, 2017

Jul 30, 2024

Russell

Santema

69

21

72 inches

165 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

On November 21, 1977, a young man named Russell John Santema, aged 21, vanished in the remote and unforgiving landscape of Alaska. He was a passenger on a plane that was reported overdue on its flight between Point Hope and Lisburne Air Force Station. The vast, icy wilderness of the Northwest Arctic Borough was the last known location of the aircraft and its occupants. Russell, a white male with brown hair and blue eyes, was approximately 6 feet tall and weighed around 165 pounds at the time of his disappearance. He was appropriately dressed for the harsh arctic conditions, wearing a snow suit, boots, and gloves. The circumstances surrounding the plane's disappearance remain shrouded in mystery. The only significant clue discovered in the aftermath of the aircraft going missing was a large hole in the ice, approximately three miles off the coast north of Kivalina. The size of the opening was substantial enough to have been caused by an airplane breaking through the frozen surface of the water. This discovery painted a grim picture of the likely fate of the aircraft and those on board, suggesting a sudden and catastrophic event. Despite this finding, no wreckage of the plane or any sign of the occupants was ever located. The disappearance of Russell Santema is a case that has remained unsolved for decades, a poignant example of the perils of aviation in the extreme and unpredictable environment of Alaska. The Alaska State Troopers have investigated the incident, but the passage of time and the lack of further evidence have left many questions unanswered. For Russell's family and friends, the absence of closure has undoubtedly been a heavy burden to bear. The case serves as a somber reminder of the unforgiving nature of the arctic and the enduring pain experienced by those left behind when a loved one vanishes without a trace.

Nov 21, 1977

Kivalina

Alaska

Northwest Arctic Borough

No

35165

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

040003863

1977-11-21

Alaska State Troopers

Brown

Blue

Blue

07/27/2026