Debris from missing air ambulance found off Nantucket after flight from Bermuda to Boston

Debris from a medical transport aircraft has been found off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, after the plane lost contact during a medical evacuation flight from Bermuda to Boston. The Gulfstream G-100 was carrying six people, the US Coast Guard confirmed on Saturday night.

The FAA told the BBC it lost contact with the aircraft just after 01:00 local time (05:00 GMT) on Saturday. Ships, helicopters and planes were involved in searches that continued through the night near Nantucket, an island community south of mainland Massachusetts. The Coast Guard said it would provide an update on Sunday morning local time.

“Search crews located a debris field confirmed to be from the aircraft off the coast of Nantucket,” the US Coast Guard said in an update on Saturday night.

Rapid descent before contact lost

FlightAware data showed the aircraft flying at approximately 24,000 feet (7,300 metres) for much of the journey before it descended 13,000 feet in about two minutes, dropping to 3,300 metres (11,000 feet) before communications went dark. Radio transmissions captured trouble between the air traffic controller and the pilot, the Boston Globe reported, based on transmissions provided by LiveATC.net. “You’re coming in blind? Is that what you said?” the controller asked, according to the Globe. “Are you declaring an emergency, or no?” The pilot’s response was inaudible. “You’re coming in a little weak so I didn’t hear what your response was, if you were declaring an emergency or not,” the controller said. The controller later confirmed the pilot had declared an emergency. An area fire dispatcher asked emergency crews just after 01:00 EDT to prepare to meet a plane with an “electrical issue”. The dispatcher later said “the aircraft has lost radio and radar”. The FAA issued a search-and-rescue alert notice for the Gulfstream G-100 at approximately 1.20am local time Saturday.

Those on board

Four Canadian nationals and two Bermudian nationals were on board. Clarence Togeretz, director of flight operations at Latitude, told CBC News that among those on the aircraft were two pilots and two medical staff, both Canadian. The crew flew to Bermuda to collect a patient and their relative, who are not Canadian. Bermuda airport operator Skyport, in a statement obtained by the Associated Press, confirmed four crew members and two passengers on the flight. The aircraft was registered to Latitude Air Ambulance, based in Ontario, Canada, which provides medical evacuation services. Authorities have notified the next of kin of those on the flight.

Search and official response

Canadian transport minister Steven MacKinnon posted that four Canadians were on the plane and that Canada is working with relevant authorities. “We are closely monitoring the situation and are working with the relevant authorities as search and rescue efforts continue,” he said. Bermuda premier David Burt posted that the Bermuda government was in contact with US authorities and the families of the passengers. The Massachusetts port authority, which operates Boston Logan International Airport, said the aircraft did not arrive as scheduled. The FAA is coordinating with the Rescue Coordination Center and the US Coast Guard to locate the aircraft. NBC News reported the plane was carrying out a medical evacuation in Bermuda, citing Togeretz. The two reports disagree on the departure time from Bermuda: the BBC says FlightAware recorded a departure at 23:40 local time, while the Guardian says FlightAware data showed a departure at 12.41am on Saturday.