The U.S. Coast Guard announced on Sunday that they have located debris from a missing medical aircraft about 20 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The plane, which vanished with six individuals on board, was traveling from Bermuda to Boston.
Identified as a Canadian-registered Gulfstream G100, the plane carried the registration C-GRJP and was operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, a company specializing in medical evacuations. On board were four Canadian nationals and two Bermudians, including four crew members, a patient, and a family companion, as reported by the company and sources from Infobae.
The flight left Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport on Friday night at 11:41 PM local time, scheduled to arrive at Boston's Logan International Airport by 1:30 AM Saturday morning.
FlightAware data recorded an abrupt descent less than two hours into the flight, with the aircraft dropping from approximately 23,000 feet to 11,000 feet within minutes, after which it vanished from radar. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a search and rescue alert at 1:20 AM.
Mary Schiavo, former Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation and an aviation attorney, provided technical insights into the incident: "Something went wrong with that major drop, and they flew into a significant storm. It's a terrible place to lose instruments and fly blind." She further explained that in such situations, "it's very easy to become disoriented and lose track of whether you're turning, climbing, or descending," according to the report.
The search operation, reported by various media outlets, spanned over four square kilometers off Nantucket and lasted at least 27 hours. The Coast Guard deployed HC-144 Ocean Sentry and HC-130 Hercules aircraft, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, a rescue cutter, and the fast response vessel William Sparling. As of the latest available updates, no survivors had been confirmed.
The incident has provoked international responses. Bermuda's Prime Minister, David Burt, confirmed that the government had reached out to the families of the six onboard, stating, "We pray for the safe return of all six individuals and are grateful for the ongoing efforts of the search and rescue teams," reports Europa Press, as cited by La Jornada.
Meanwhile, Canada's Minister of Transport, Steve MacKinnon, expressed his thoughts for "all passengers on board, their families, loved ones, and colleagues during this challenging time," and confirmed Canada's active cooperation in the investigation, according to media sources.
This event occurred near the infamous Bermuda Triangle, a region in the North Atlantic linked to numerous aircraft and ship disappearances. However, experts argue that this area doesn't experience an unusually high accident rate compared to other busy zones and that historical incidents often have conventional explanations like mechanical failures, navigation errors, and adverse weather conditions.
The tragedy adds to a series of recent air incidents in the region. In early September, a Piper PA-34 Seneca with four individuals, including an elderly couple and their two grandchildren, disappeared on a flight from the Bahamas to Miami, with no survivors found.
Questions About the Missing Plane Incident
What type of aircraft was involved in the incident?
The aircraft involved was a Canadian-registered Gulfstream G100, operated by Latitude Air Ambulance.
Where was the debris from the missing plane discovered?
Debris from the missing plane was found approximately 20 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Who is leading the investigation and search efforts?
The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the search efforts, with cooperation from Canadian authorities.