Coast Guard Responds to Flight Off Nantucket
A medical transport flight carrying six people dropped nearly 4,000 meters in two minutes before losing contact on November 3, prompting a search off the coast of Massachusetts, according to jpchinapress.com reporting. The aircraft, a Gulfstream G100, went missing roughly an hour after departing Bermuda en route to Boston. The U.S. Coast Guard deployed planes, helicopters, and vessels to the search area located approximately 48 kilometers south of Cape Cod near Nantucket Island.
Federal Aviation Administration records show the aircraft was flying at an altitude of approximately 7,300 meters when it experienced the rapid descent. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a search and rescue alert at approximately 1:20 a.m. after losing contact with the flight. Latitude Air Ambulance, the Canadian company that has registered the aircraft since 2018, stated that communication with the plane ceased at around 1:30 a.m.
Air Traffic Control Logs Reveal Final Transmissions
Audio recordings from the aviation radio website LiveATC capture air traffic controllers questioning the flight crew shortly before the disappearance. According to the recordings, a controller asked if the crew was operating under instrument flight rules and whether they needed to declare an emergency. The recordings indicate that controllers received no response to subsequent calls and instructed another aircraft in the vicinity to assist in locating the missing medical transport.
FlightAware data indicates the aircraft took off from Bermuda just after 12:40 a.m. and was scheduled to land in Boston at approximately 1:12 a.m. The operator confirmed that four Canadian crew members—two pilots and two medical personnel—were on board alongside a patient and a family member who boarded in Bermuda. The patient and family member are not Canadian citizens. Latitude Air Ambulance noted that its fleet has previously flown to 120 countries, covering every continent except Antarctica.
Coast Guard Searches for Missing 1996 Aircraft
Canadian government records show the missing Gulfstream G100 was manufactured in 1996. The aircraft operated under Latitude Air Ambulance, which is headquartered in Canada. The company’s operational leadership confirmed the timeline of the flight to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, noting the aircraft failed to arrive at its scheduled destination before the operator notified the U.S. Coast Guard.
The U.S. Coast Guard continues to coordinate the active marine and aerial search near Nantucket Island following the Federal Aviation Administration’s initial alert. Rescue crews are sweeping the designated sector south of Cape Cod as authorities review the final air traffic control interactions and flight tracking data.
Common Questions About the Search Operation
What aircraft was involved in the medical transport flight?
The aircraft is a 1996-built Gulfstream G100 registered to Latitude Air Ambulance, a Canadian-headquartered operator.
How many people were on board the flight?
There were six people on board, consisting of four Canadian crew members, a patient, and a family member.
Where is the active search taking place?
The U.S. Coast Guard is searching the waters near Nantucket Island, approximately 48 kilometers south of Cape Cod, using aircraft, helicopters, and boats.