NANTUCKET, Mass. — The U.S. Coast Guard said search crews located a debris field confirmed to be from a missing medical transport jet off Nantucket after the aircraft lost contact while flying from Bermuda to Boston with six people aboard, NPR, NBC News and a Coast Guard statement reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration notified the Coast Guard at about 2 a.m. Saturday that contact had been lost with the Gulfstream G100, tail number C-GRJP, operated by Ontario-based Latitude Air Ambulance. Four Canadian nationals and two Bermudian nationals were on board. Next of kin have been notified, the Coast Guard said.
Flight-tracking data reviewed by NPR showed the jet dropped at least 9,000 feet over about two minutes, then leveled off for several more minutes before disappearing. Nantucket Memorial Airport said the pilot declared an emergency. Air-traffic-control audio obtained by news outlets captured controllers asking whether the aircraft was “coming in blind,” and emergency dispatchers warned crews the plane appeared to be suffering electrical issues and had lost radio and radar.
Coast Guard and partner assets — including HC-144 and HC-130 aircraft, an MH-60 helicopter, motor lifeboats, the cutter William Sparling and New York Air National Guard rescue crews — searched roughly 1,644 square miles over about 27 hours as of Saturday night. Clarence Togeretz, Latitude’s director of flight operations, said the flight was carrying out a medical evacuation in Bermuda. Bermuda Premier David Burt said his thoughts were with those on board and their families. The Coast Guard said the search for the six people continued.
Sources: NPR, NBC News, U.S. Coast Guard
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