US Coast Guard searches for missing air ambulance off Massachusetts coast
AI Summary
A search is underway for a medical evacuation jet carrying six people that vanished off Nantucket while flying from Bermuda to Boston early Saturday.
An air ambulance jet with six people on board disappeared early Saturday morning during a medical evacuation flight from Bermuda to Boston, prompting a search near Nantucket.
The Gulfstream G-100 aircraft, operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, lost contact with air traffic control shortly after 1:00 a.m. local time. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a search-and-rescue alert notice after the jet failed to arrive at Boston Logan International Airport. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that air and surface crews are searching an area off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts.
On board the Canadian-registered jet were four crew members—two pilots and two medical staff—along with a patient and a relative. Clarence Togeretz, director of flight operations at Latitude, told CBC News that the crew members are Canadian, while the passengers are not. Citing an investigation source, ABC News reported that no Americans were on the flight.
Flight trackers show the aircraft experienced a significant drop in altitude before communications went dark. According to the BBC, data from FlightAware indicated the plane plummeted from 24,000 feet to 11,000 feet. ABC News reported that officials believe the plane descended 7,500 feet before hitting the water. Radio transmissions obtained by the Boston Globe indicate the pilot declared an emergency, and an emergency dispatcher mentioned a possible electrical issue before the aircraft lost radar.
The FAA is currently coordinating with the Rescue Coordination Center and the Coast Guard to locate the aircraft. Togeretz told NBC News that while the lack of timely reporting is concerning, he remains optimistic that the worst hasn't happened. The Massachusetts Port Authority stated that its thoughts are with the those on board and their families as the operation continues.
Background
The aircraft departed Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport at 11:40 p.m. on Friday night for the flight to Massachusetts.
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