The United States Coast Guard has found debris believed to be from a missing air ambulance that was travelling from Bermuda to Boston.
The Canadian-registered Gulfstream jet disappeared after departing from Bermuda’s LF Wade International Airport at about 12:41am local time. Six people were on board, including four crew members and two passengers.
According to the US Coast Guard, a debris field linked to the aircraft was located off the coast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. A Coast Guard cutter continued searching the area overnight and into Sunday for the six people on board.
Canada’s Transport Minister, Steven MacKinnon, said four of those aboard were Canadian nationals, while the other two were Bermudian nationals.
Flight-tracking data showed that the aircraft had been flying at about 24,000 feet before suddenly descending roughly 13,000 feet within two minutes shortly before air traffic controllers lost contact with it.
Audio from the final moments of the flight indicated that the pilot had declared an emergency. An air traffic controller was heard asking whether the pilot was “coming in blind” shortly before communication was lost.
Bermuda Premier David Burt said the government was working with US authorities and the families of those aboard as search-and-rescue operations continued.
The aircraft was operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, a Canadian company based in Ontario that provides medical evacuation services.
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