Search Efforts Continue for Missing Air Ambulance Off Massachusetts Coast
In a dramatic search operation, the U.S. Coast Guard has discovered debris near Nantucket, Massachusetts, believed to be from a Canadian air ambulance. This aircraft, en route from Bermuda to Boston, vanished early Saturday while carrying six individuals.
The aircraft, a Gulfstream G100, was transporting two Bermudans and four Canadians. The Coast Guard has informed their families and persists in the search for the missing passengers.
Flight data revealed a concerning drop of the jet by approximately 9,000 feet within two minutes. The aircraft briefly stabilized before it vanished. During this period, the pilot alerted Nantucket Memorial Airport to an emergency. In a tense exchange, air traffic control queried, “You’re coming in blind?”
The U.S. Coast Guard has deployed a helicopter, two search and rescue planes, and a motor lifeboat to locate the missing aircraft. Heather Diehl/Getty Images
Audio reviewed by The Boston Globe highlights that a fire rescue dispatcher advised emergency teams to prepare for the plane’s arrival. It was reportedly 15 minutes away, facing electrical problems, and had lost both radio and radar contact.
The Coast Guard’s search and rescue operations include deploying two planes, a helicopter, and a motor lifeboat.
The air ambulance is operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, a company based in Ontario, Canada. Since its inception in 2009, the firm claims to have completed numerous missions, ensuring the safe return of patients to their families. Their website emphasizes a “flawless safety record.” The air ambulances are equipped with two pilots, a medical team, and comprehensive ICU medical equipment.
Additional reporting by Kate Bartlett.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
