A medical evacuation aircraft carrying six people disappeared early Saturday while en route from Bermuda to Boston, prompting an extensive search operation off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The Gulfstream G100, operated by Canada-based Latitude Air Ambulance, was reported missing in the early hours of the morning, according to company spokesman Clarence Togeretz.
On board were two pilots, two medical personnel, one patient, and a family member. The Canadian-registered air ambulance jet departed from Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport and was scheduled to land in Boston around 1:30 a.m. When contact was lost, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration informed the U.S. Coast Guard, which immediately launched a search employing boats, aircraft, helicopters, cutters, and sonar equipment to comb the seabed.
Search efforts covered an area of roughly 2,840 square miles. On Sunday, a “debris field” was discovered approximately off the coast of Nantucket at a depth of about 80 to 90 feet, raising concerns about the fate of those aboard. Despite the challenging conditions, weather was not cited as a hindrance to the rescue and recovery attempts.
Communications prior to the disappearance indicated the plane had declared an emergency, with the pilot reporting electrical problems and suggesting they were “coming in blind” amid a storm approaching the area. Air traffic control recordings revealed the pilot’s report of navigational difficulties and a rapid descent from cruising altitude—around 24,000 feet—to approximately 10,000 feet just before losing contact. Aviation experts noted that a sudden loss of instruments in stormy conditions could lead to spatial disorientation, complicating the pilot’s ability to safely navigate.
The passenger manifest included four Canadians—two of whom were medical staff and two pilots—and two Bermudian nationals, including the patient and a family member. Canadian authorities have been actively monitoring and coordinating with U.S. search and rescue teams.
After more than 40 hours of intensive searching, the U.S. Coast Guard announced on Sunday evening that it would suspend active search operations. Rear Adm. Matthew Lake, commander of the Coast Guard’s Northeast District, expressed condolences to the families affected and acknowledged the efforts of partner agencies involved.
Latitude Air Ambulance, which operates a fleet of 10 aircraft providing worldwide medical repatriation and evacuation services, has not released additional information regarding the incident. The search suspension marks a somber milestone in efforts to locate the missing aircraft and those aboard.