A massive search effort is underway after a medical jet carrying six people on board went missing near Nantucket early Saturday while flying from Bermuda to Boston, according to the U.S. Coast Guard and Federal Aviation Administration. The Canadian-registered Gulfstream G-100, operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, vanished from radar after a rapid descent from 24,000 feet to 11,000 feet, prompting an extensive rescue operation involving multiple aircraft and marine vessels off the Massachusetts coast.
Coast Guard and local police deploy aircraft, vessels, and ATVs
The U.S. Coast Guard Northeast District confirmed that rescue efforts would continue through the night until further notice. The search utilizes an extensive array of assets, including an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane, an HC-130 Hercules airplane, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat, and the FRC William Sparling, a Sentinel-class fast response cutter, according to the Coast Guard.
Police in Nantucket checked the island’s airport for the missing jet and found nothing, while officers and the harbormaster began combing the southern shoreline aboard ATVs at sunrise, according to a statement from the Nantucket police department. ABC News reported that air traffic controllers had trouble hearing the pilots declare an emergency and even asked a nearby Ethiopian Airlines jet to try and reach the aircraft with no response.
Did You Know? The missing aircraft is a Gulfstream G-100 that departed Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport at approximately 11:40 p.m. ET on Friday, carrying four crew members and two passengers, with an intended arrival at Boston’s Logan International Airport around 1:30 a.m. local time.
Flight Path and Radio Transmissions Before Disappearance
FlightAware data showed that the aircraft quickly dropped from about 24,000 feet down to 11,000 feet after roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes in the air before losing contact. As the jet approached Nantucket, its pilot reported electrical failures during radio transmissions, as detailed in reports from The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald. Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general of the U.S. Department of Transportation, told the Herald that the flight tracking data revealed a harrowing struggle involving a sudden drop followed by an encounter with a moving weather front.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Search and Rescue Alert Notice for the jet at about 1:20 a.m. local time after losing contact around 1 a.m., according to agency statements. Clarence Togeretz, operations manager for Latitude Air Ambulance, stated that the company was tracking the flight and reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard after losing contact around 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
Passengers and Crew Aboard the Air Ambulance
The six individuals aboard the flight comprise four crew members and two passengers, according to Latitude Air Ambulance and airport operator Skyport. Steve MacKinnon, Canada’s minister of transport, stated that four of the individuals on board are Canadian citizens. Clarence Togeretz further specified to the media that the four crew members are Canadian citizens, while the patient and a family member are Bermudian nationals.
Leaders from multiple jurisdictions expressed deep concern over the missing aircraft. Bermuda Premier David Burt stated on X that the government has been in contact with the families of those on board, saying, “We are praying that all six people will be found safe, and we thank the search and rescue crews for their continuing efforts.” Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey also noted at a labor rally in Dorchester that state authorities will support the rescue efforts and work closely with the Coast Guard.
Details on the aircraft, disappearance time, and passengers
What aircraft was involved in the incident?
The aircraft is a Gulfstream G-100 registered to Canada-based Latitude Air Ambulance, which operates out of Hamilton International Airport in Ontario.
What time did the plane disappear from radar?
The Federal Aviation Administration lost contact with the plane around 1 a.m. local time, and flight tracking data showed the aircraft dropping in altitude before disappearing shortly afterward.
Who was on board the flight?
The flight carried six people in total, consisting of a four-person Canadian flight crew, a patient, and a family member.
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