Key Takeaway: The U.S. Coast Guard suspended a roughly 66-hour search for a Gulfstream G-100 medical transport after debris was found off Nantucket. Flight tracking shows the jet descended about 13,000 feet in two minutes after cruising at 24,000 feet. The aircraft, operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, carried four crew members and two passengers; next of kin have been notified and authorities are continuing the investigation.
Coast Guard Suspends 66-Hour Search After Medical Jet Missing Near Nantucket; Debris Found
Coast Guard boats continue to search for the six people aboard a missing medical transport aircraft after search crews located a debris field confirmed to be from the aircraft off the coast of Nantucket, officials said. - Kiera Shantry/United States Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard announced Sunday evening that it has suspended active search operations after roughly 66 hours for a Gulfstream G-100 medical transport and the six people aboard that vanished near Nantucket following departure from Bermuda early Saturday.
What Happened
Flight tracking data from FlightAware indicate the Gulfstream had been cruising at about 24,000 feet for more than an hour before its altitude dropped roughly 13,000 feet over a two-minute span. Debris later recovered off the coast of Nantucket — an island about 30 miles south of Cape Cod — was reported by the Coast Guard.
The United States Coast Guard searches for the missing medical transport aircraft. - Kiera Shantry/United States Coast Guard
Timeline & Notifications
The aircraft departed L.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda just after 12:40 a.m. with a scheduled arrival at Boston Logan International Airport around 1:12 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a search-and-rescue alert at about 1:20 a.m., and Latitude Air Ambulance reported losing contact with the jet around 1:30 a.m. after it failed to land as scheduled. Next of kin have been notified, the Coast Guard said.
Search Effort
Coast Guard crews and partner agencies searched an area covering approximately 4,445 square miles using fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, cutters and small boats. "Suspending a search is not an easy decision," Rear Adm. Matthew Lake, commander of the Coast Guard's Northeast District, said in the agency statement. Capt. John McTamney, chief of response for the Northeast District, said weather conditions had been favorable for search operations as of Sunday.
An aerial view of Nantucket, Mass. with a view of Madaket Harbor, on September 18, 2014. - David L. Ryan/Boston Globe/Getty Images/File
Who Was On Board
The aircraft was operated by Canada-based Latitude Air Ambulance. Clarence Togeretz, Latitude's director of flight operations, told CBC that the four-person crew — two pilots and two medical staff — were Canadian; the two other passengers were Bermudian nationals, described as a patient and a relative. The Gulfstream G100 was built in 1996 and has been registered to Latitude since 2018.
Audio and Locator Technology
Audio captured by LiveATC.net recorded air traffic controllers asking the Boston-bound air ambulance whether it was "coming in blind" and if it was declaring an emergency before contact was lost. No clear response is audible on the recording. Former FBI special agent Richard Kolko told CNN that searchers also attempt to detect an aircraft's Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), which emits an automated distress signal if a plane crashes and ends up underwater.
"We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy and our gratitude for our partner agencies who helped support search efforts," Rear Adm. Matthew Lake said.
Next Steps
With active search operations suspended, the investigation into the aircraft's disappearance will continue through federal aviation and international channels. Authorities have recovered debris and continue to coordinate with Canadian and Bermudian officials, as well as family members of those on board. CNN has reached out to Latitude for comment.
Note: Details such as exact times and sequence of notifications come from FAA, Coast Guard and company statements; active investigations may update the timeline and findings.
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