US authorities have suspended the search for six people on board a medical transport aircraft that went missing on Saturday while traveling from Bermuda to Boston. The Coast Guard announced on Sunday evening that it was ending the search off the coast of Nantucket, a Massachusetts island, after 66 hours of searching for the passengers. The decision was made after an extensive search effort.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that contact was lost with the Gulfstream G-100 plane just after 01:00 local time on Saturday. Authorities notified the next of kin of those on the flight, which included four Canadian nationals and two Bermudian nationals. The plane belonged to Latitude Air Ambulances, a company that provides international medical flights for patients returning home.
The plane departed from Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport at 23:40 local time on Friday and was due to land at Boston's Logan International at 01:30 EDT on Saturday. Among those on board were two pilots and two medical staff, both Canadian, according to Clarence Togeretz, director of flight operations at Latitude. The crew flew to Bermuda to collect a patient and their relative.
Flight data showed that the aircraft significantly dropped in altitude before its communications went dark, plummeting from around 7,300m to 3,300m. Radio transmissions indicated trouble with communications between the air traffic controller and the pilot. The air traffic controller asked if the pilot was declaring an emergency, but the response was inaudible.
Authorities had located a "debris field" confirmed to be from the aircraft on Saturday evening. An area fire dispatcher asked emergency crews to prepare to meet a plane with an "electrical issue" just after 01:00 EDT. The dispatcher later said "the aircraft has lost radio and radar". The Coast Guard expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of those on board.
The search and rescue operation was extensive, involving multiple agencies and resources. The Coast Guard's decision to suspend the search was made in consultation with other authorities. The incident is under investigation, and authorities will review the cause of the accident.
The incident has raised concerns about aviation safety, and the investigation will likely focus on the cause of the sudden loss of communication and altitude. The suspension of the search marks a somber end to the rescue efforts, and authorities will now focus on supporting the families of those on board.
Key points
- US authorities suspend search for six people on board medical transport aircraft that went missing off Nantucket coast
- Plane was traveling from Bermuda to Boston with four Canadian nationals and two Bermudian nationals on board
- Investigation into the cause of the accident will be conducted by relevant authorities
