The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search operation Saturday morning for a medical transport aircraft that disappeared from radar off the coast of Massachusetts, officials confirmed.
According to the Coast Guard, the Federal Aviation Administration reported losing contact with the Gulfstream G-100 Astra SPX aircraft at approximately 2 a.m. The plane, which was operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, was en route from Bermuda to Boston when communication was lost.
Six individuals were on board at the time of the incident.
Search and rescue teams are utilizing both air and sea assets to scour the waters near Nantucket. As of 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, authorities had not received any updates regarding the whereabouts of the missing aircraft or its occupants.
Tragic news to start the weekend. The Coast Guard is launching everything they have, but finding a small plane in open ocean remains incredibly difficult.
Medical transport flights often have tight schedules. I wonder if mechanical failure or fatigue played a role before the communication went dark Saturday morning?
Living near Nantucket, this is absolutely terrifying. I hope the search teams find them quickly. Fingers crossed for a miracle in these choppy waters.
A Gulfstream G100 is a reliable aircraft. Is there any word yet on weather conditions at the time contact was lost? That would be crucial context here.
Please pray for the six souls aboard. Nantucket waters can be brutally cold this time of year, adding a dangerous element to the rescue efforts right now.