NANTUCKET, United States: The US Coast Guard has ended its search for six people aboard a medical transport aircraft that went missing off the coast of Massachusetts while travelling from Bermuda to Boston.
The Coast Guard announced on Sunday evening that the search operation near Nantucket had been suspended after 66 hours of efforts to locate the missing passengers and crew.
“We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.
Aircraft disappeared on Bermuda-Boston route
The Federal Aviation Administration said it lost contact with the Gulfstream G-100 aircraft shortly after 01:00 local time on Saturday while it was flying towards Boston.
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The plane had departed from Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport at 23:40 local time and was scheduled to arrive at Boston’s Logan International Airport at 01:30.
Authorities confirmed that those on board included four Canadian nationals and two Bermudian nationals. The families of the victims have been notified.
Debris found during search operation
Officials earlier confirmed that a “debris field” recovered from the search area belonged to the missing aircraft.
The aircraft was operated by Latitude Air Ambulances, a company that provides international medical flights for patients returning home. Two pilots and two medical staff members were among those aboard, according to the company’s director of flight operations, Clarence Togeretz.
The aircraft had travelled to Bermuda to collect a patient and a relative, who were not Canadian.
Aircraft reported communication issues
Flight data showed the plane’s altitude dropped significantly before communication was lost, falling from around 7,300 metres (24,000 feet) to 3,300 metres (11,000 feet).
Radio transmissions indicated possible communication difficulties between the pilot and air traffic controllers. According to reports, the controller asked whether the pilot was declaring an emergency after hearing a weak transmission.
The pilot later confirmed an emergency, while local emergency crews were alerted to prepare for an aircraft reporting an “electrical issue”.
The Coast Guard said the search had been concluded after extensive efforts, while offering support and condolences to the families of those missing.
