The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed that debris from a missing medical transport aircraft has been found off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The search for survivors continues.
The Gulfstream G-100, operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, a Canadian company based in Ontario, disappeared early Saturday while flying from Bermuda to Boston. Six people were on board: two pilots, two medical staff members, a patient, and a relative of the patient.
The Federal Aviation Administration lost contact with the aircraft just after 01:00 local time on Saturday. The plane had departed Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport at 23:40 local time and was due to land at Boston's Logan International Airport at 01:30 EDT.
"Search crews located a debris field confirmed to be from the aircraft off the coast of Nantucket," the Coast Guard said in a statement Saturday night. Ships, helicopters, and planes were involved in searches that continued through the night.
The four Canadian nationals on board included two pilots and two medical staff members, according to Clarence Togeretz, director of flight operations at Latitude. The crew had flown to Bermuda to collect a patient and the patient's relative, both Bermudian nationals. Next of kin have been notified.
Flight data showed the aircraft dropped sharply in altitude before communications went dark, falling from approximately 7,300 metres to 3,300 metres over a period of several minutes. According to a separate account, the jet dropped at least 9,000 feet over two minutes before leveling off briefly and then disappearing.
Radio transmissions captured during the flight indicated trouble with communications between the pilot and air traffic control.
"You're coming in blind? Is that what you said?" the air traffic controller asked. "Are you declaring an emergency, or no?"
The pilot's response was inaudible. The air traffic controller later confirmed the pilot had declared an emergency.
A local fire dispatcher alerted emergency crews just after 01:00 EDT to prepare for the arrival of a plane with an electrical issue. The dispatcher later reported that "the aircraft has lost radio and radar."
The Coast Guard deployed two search and rescue aircraft, a helicopter, and a motor lifeboat. An update was expected Sunday morning local time.
Latitude Air Ambulance has operated international medical repatriation flights since 2009. The company's website states it has completed thousands of missions returning patients to their families and describes its safety record as flawless. Its aircraft are staffed by two pilots and a medical team and are equipped with a stretcher and full ICU medical equipment.
