Debris found from plane that went missing off US coast

US Coast Guard crews have found missing medical plane debris off the coast of Nantucket that has been confirmed as coming from the air ambulance jet that vanished with six people on board while flying from Bermuda to Boston early on Saturday. The Gulfstream G-100, operated by Canada-based Latitude Air Ambulance, lost contact with air traffic control shortly after 1 a.m. on Saturday, triggering a large-scale search of the Atlantic waters south of the Massachusetts island.

The search for survivors continued through the night, with the Coast Guard saying a debris field about 13 nautical miles south of Nantucket is associated with the missing aircraft. More details are available on our main site at the full story page.

Key Facts

• Aircraft: Gulfstream G-100 (tail number C-GRJP), a twin-engine midsize jet built in 1996 and registered to Ontario-based Latitude Air Ambulance since 2018, configured as an air ambulance.
• Route: Departed Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport late Friday night, about 11:41 p.m. ET, bound for Boston Logan International Airport.
• Contact lost: About 1 a.m. Saturday after a rapid descent of roughly 13,000 feet in two minutes from 24,000 feet; the FAA issued a search-and-rescue alert at about 1:20 a.m.
• People on board: Six — four Canadian nationals (two pilots and two medical staff, per the operator) and two Bermudian nationals (a patient and their relative).
• Search area: Waters south of Nantucket, Massachusetts; debris field found roughly 13 nautical miles offshore. More than 1,600 square miles searched over about 27 hours.
• Status: Families notified; search continuing; US Coast Guard planned a news conference for Sunday morning, with the NTSB monitoring for a formal investigation.

Debris from the missing medical plane found off Nantucket as search continues

The US Coast Guard confirmed late on Saturday that its search crews had located a debris field south of Nantucket that is associated with the missing Gulfstream. Ships, helicopters and planes from Air Station Cape Cod and Station Brant Point took part, including an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, a 47-foot motor lifeboat and the fast response cutter William Sparling, which continued operations through the night. See also our World news section for continuing coverage.

Flight from Bermuda to Boston

According to flight-tracking data from FlightAware, the jet departed Bermuda late on Friday night and flew at about 24,000 feet for much of the trip before plunging roughly 13,000 feet in about two minutes shortly before controllers lost contact. The FAA told the Coast Guard early on Saturday that it had lost contact with the aircraft, and issued a search-and-rescue alert notice at about 1:20 a.m. The Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates Boston Logan, confirmed the plane never arrived as scheduled.

Final radio contact: ‘coming in blind’

Air traffic audio captured by public services recorded the controller asking the Gulfstream pilot, “You said you’re coming in blind? Is that what you said?” — followed by a question about whether the crew was declaring an emergency. The pilot’s reply was not clearly audible, but authorities confirmed an emergency had been declared, and the Boston Globe reported the aircraft was dealing with an electrical problem shortly before contact was lost. The flight’s call sign was reported as “Heartbeat 104.”

Six people on board

The four-person crew had flown to Bermuda to collect a patient and their relative for a medical evacuation flight, Clarence Togeretz, Director of Flight Operations at Latitude Air Ambulance, told the CBC. The two pilots and two medical staff are Canadian; the two other people are Bermudian nationals, the Coast Guard said, adding that all families have been notified. Canada’s Minister of Transport, Steven MacKinnon, said four of the six aboard were Canadians and that Ottawa was working with the relevant authorities, while Bermuda’s Premier David Burt said the government had contacted relatives and thanked rescuers.

What happens next

The Coast Guard said it would hold a news conference on Sunday morning as search teams keep working the area south of Nantucket. The National Transportation Safety Board is monitoring the case and collecting information ahead of a formal investigation into what caused the rapid descent and loss of contact. Aviation safety experts are expected to analyse flight data, radio communications and any recovered wreckage.