Coast Guard searches for medical plane with 6 aboard off Nantucket

Medical Plane Vanishes During Transatlantic Flight

A medical evacuation plane carrying six people vanished during a flight from Bermuda to Boston on Saturday, prompting a coordinated search by U.S. Coast Guard and federal aviation authorities. The Gulfstream G-100, registered in Canada and operated by Latitude Air Ambulances, lost contact with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shortly after departing Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport. The aircraft was en route to Boston’s Logan International Airport when it disappeared from radar, according to multiple reports.

The plane’s last known position was off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, where the Coast Guard has deployed air and maritime assets to locate the missing aircraft. Flight data from FlightAware indicates the plane plummeted from approximately 7,300 meters (24,000 feet) to 3,300 meters (11,000 feet) before communications ceased. The FAA issued a search and rescue notice around 1:00 a.m. local time, though some sources cite the loss of contact as occurring closer to 2:00 a.m.

Search Efforts Expand Across Air and Sea

The Coast Guard has mobilized multiple resources for the operation, including an HC-144 Ocean Sentinel aircraft, an MH-60 helicopter, and a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Nantucket. Additional support came from the USCG cutter William Sparling, which is stationed in the region. The search area focuses on waters near Nantucket, a key maritime hub in the Atlantic Ocean.

Latitude Air Ambulances, the operator of the missing plane, specializes in international medical flights, transporting patients for critical care. The company’s Gulfstream G-100 jets are equipped with full ICU facilities, patient stretchers, and the capacity to travel over 3,000 miles. While the identities of those aboard remain unconfirmed, some reports suggest the plane carried four crew members and two passengers. The FAA and Rescue Coordination Center are assisting in the search, though no distress signals have been reported.

Unanswered Questions and Ongoing Investigations

Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the loss of contact, leaving the incident shrouded in uncertainty. The FAA and Coast Guard are coordinating to determine whether the plane encountered mechanical failure, navigational issues, or another unforeseen challenge. The identities of the six individuals aboard remain undisclosed, though some sources suggest they included both medical staff and patients requiring urgent care.

The search for the plane continues, with no immediate signs of its location. Massport, which operates Boston’s airport, expressed solidarity with the families of those on board, stating, “Our thoughts are with those on board and their loved ones as the search continues.”

The next critical development will hinge on the success of the search efforts and any new information released by federal agencies. With the plane’s trajectory and fate still unknown, the focus remains on locating the aircraft and ensuring the safety of those aboard.