Wreckage from the missing US-bound aircraft has been found off the Massachusetts coast as rescuers continue searching for the six people who were on board.
The medical transport plane, operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, lost contact overnight on Saturday.
The Federal Aviation Administration alerted the US Coast Guard to the communications failure at about 2am local time, prompting a search for the Gulfstream G100.
The aircraft was scheduled to arrive in Boston after departing Bermuda. On board were two Canadian pilots, two Canadian medical workers, a patient from Bermuda and the patient’s relative.
“Coast Guard search crews located a debris field that has been confirmed to be associated with the missing aircraft,” the service said in an update on Saturday night.
“Crews are continuing to search for the six people who were aboard the aircraft, and the Coast Guard cutter William Sparling will continue search efforts throughout the night.”
Over the past 27 hours, Coast Guard teams have searched an area covering 1,644 square miles. The recovery operation remains under way.
The multi-agency mission has involved a Jayhawk helicopter crew, motor lifeboat teams and aircraft from the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing.
The US Coast Guard searched for the missing aircraft carrying six people off Nantucket, Massachusetts. Debris from the plane was discovered on Saturday night
FlightAware data indicated that the aircraft dropped from about 25,000 feet to approximately 11,000 feet shortly after 1am. Its final ping was recorded at around 1.30am
The Coast Guard searched 1,644 square miles over 27 hours for the missing aircraft. Wreckage was found off Nantucket on Saturday night, pictured above (stock image)
The flight left John C Munro Hamilton International Airport in Ontario at 7.10pm EST and reached Bermuda’s LF Wade International Airport shortly before 9.30pm.
The aircraft departed again at 11.41pm, bound for Logan International Airport in Boston. It had been airborne for roughly an hour when FlightAware data showed it plunging from around 25,000 feet to approximately 11,000 feet shortly after 1am.
The plane’s final signal was detected at about 1.30am, shortly before its expected arrival in Boston.
The last recorded exchange between the aircraft and air traffic control captured the tense moments before contact was lost.
“You said you’re coming in blind?” a New York controller asked the Latitude Air Ambulance flight.
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“Okay, you declare an emergency or not?” he continued, adding that the reception was “a little weak.”
The controller then said he “didn’t hear what your response was if you were declaring an emergency or not.”
Seconds later, he repeatedly asked whether the air ambulance was still there, but received no reply.
He asked another person whether the aircraft was visible on radar. A different man responded that the radar signal had cut out for anything below 9,500 feet.
The aircraft was identified as a Gulfstream G100 operated by Latitude Air Ambulance (file photo of a Gulfstream G100)
Latitude’s Director of Flight Operations Clarence Togeretz told NBC News, ‘We always get rather concerned when our crew doesn’t report to us in a timely manner.
‘But I will say that again, optimistically and positively, that doesn’t mean that the worst has happened.’
Mary Schiavo, a former Inspector General of the Transportation Department, told the Associated Press that the plane’s sharp descent could mean it lost navigational instruments as a storm passed.
‘Something bad happened with this big drop, and they flew into this big storm. It’s a terrible place to have a loss of your instruments and be flying blind,’ Schiavo said.
‘It’s very easy to get disoriented and not know if you’re turning, climbing, descending, etc. Spatial orientation hits pretty quickly.’
The Bermuda Government confirmed that the aircraft was reported missing after losing contact with air traffic control.
The government added that officials were in contact with the families of those on board and remain in contact with US officials on the search.
‘My thoughts are with everyone on board and their families during this deeply worrying time. We are praying that all six people will be found safe, and we thank the search and rescue crews for their continuing efforts,’ Bermuda Premier David Burt said.
Canadian Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon confirmed in a statement on X that four of the people on board are Canadians.
‘We are closely monitoring the situation and are working with the relevant authorities as search and rescue efforts continue. I want to thank all first responders involved for their ongoing efforts,’ MacKinnon added.
