Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Kings 2:16

"And they said unto him, Behold now, there are with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master, lest the Spirit of Jehovah hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send." — 2 Kings 2:16 (ASV)

Compare the marginal references. The words “cast him upon some mountain,” rather imply that they expected to find the prophet alive.