US Coast Guard searching for missing medical jet carrying six from Bermuda to Boston

The US Coast Guard is searching for a missing Gulfstream G100 air ambulance carrying six people that lost contact with air traffic controllers early on Saturday while flying from Bermuda to Boston, officials said.

The aircraft departed L.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda at about 12:41am on Saturday, October 3, bound for Boston Logan International Airport, with four crew members and two passengers aboard, according to Skyport, the airport operator.

The Federal Aviation Administration notified the Coast Guard at about 2am that it had lost contact with the aircraft, which the FAA identified as tail number C-GRJP. The FAA issued a search-and-rescue alert for the jet at about 1:20am, the NY Post reported, citing the agency. The Canadian-registered aircraft is operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, a medical transport company, which confirmed the plane is part of its fleet, Bermuda Broadcasting reported.

Search crews are scouring the waters off Nantucket, Massachusetts. The Coast Guard said assets responding include an HC-144 Ocean Sentry plane from Air Station Cape Cod, an HC-130 Hercules from Air Station Elizabeth City, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Cape Cod, a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Brant Point, and the fast response cutter USCGC William Sparling.

Flight-tracking data showed the jet dropped from 23,500 feet to 11,000 feet in three minutes starting at about 1:04am, with a final radar ping at 1:23am, according to FlightAware data cited by the NY Post. Weather in Nantucket was clear on Saturday morning, Reuters reported.

The Government of Bermuda said it is in contact with the families of those aboard. “My thoughts are with everyone on board and their families during this deeply worrying time,” Premier David Burt said. The search is ongoing; this is a developing story.