Coast Guard finds debris off Nantucket as search continues for 6 missing on medical plane
The U.S. Coast Guard located debris that was confirmed to be associated with the missing aircraft off Nantucket, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed to Boston, Massachusetts, sister station WCVB on Saturday.
The search is still ongoing for the six missing passengers who were on board, the Coast Guard said.
The Gulfstream G-100 aircraft departed L.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda and was traveling to Boston’s Logan International Airport.
A Massport spokesperson confirmed that the aircraft did not arrive at Logan Airport as scheduled.
The Bermuda government said it has been in contact with the families of those on board.
“My thoughts are with everyone on board and their families during this deeply worrying time,” said Premier David Burt. “We are praying that all six people will be found safe, and we thank the search and rescue crews for their continuing efforts.”
In a statement from Skyport, the company that manages Wade International Airport, a spokesperson said that the aircraft was a Canadian-registered air ambulance that left its airport for Boston at 12:41 a.m. on Saturday.
The company said there were four crew members and two passengers on board. The passengers were traveling to Boston for medical care.
“The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has advised that air traffic controllers subsequently lost contact with the aircraft off the coast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, and a search is currently underway,” the spokesperson said. “Skyport has no further information to provide at this time.”
The Federal Aviation Administration said it issued a search and rescue alert for the plane at 1:20 a.m.
The FAA notified the U.S. Coast Guard that it lost contact with the plane, which is registered to Canadian-based Latitude Air Ambulance. The company confirmed that the missing plane is among its fleet.
The Coast Guard’s response includes crews from Air Station Cape Cod, a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Brant Point and the USCGC William Sparling — a fast response cutter.
The search is about 13 nautical miles off the coast and extends from about 30 nautical miles wide and 20 nautical miles long, according to the Coast Guard.
