The situation
Real talk, the situation off the coast of Nantucket is rough. A medical transport plane that went missing early Saturday morning has been located after search crews found a confirmed debris field in the water.
How we got here
The Gulfstream G-100, operated by Latitude Air Ambulances, left Bermuda around 11:40 p.m. local time on Friday, headed for Boston’s Logan International Airport. Everything seemed standard until about 1:00 a.m. Saturday, when the flight lost contact with air traffic control.
Flight data paints a pretty grim picture: the aircraft reportedly dropped from roughly 24,000 feet to 11,000 feet before going dark. According to audio from LiveATC.net reported by the Boston Globe, the pilot eventually declared an emergency after struggling with communication. Dispatchers were initially alerted to an "electrical issue" on the flight, but radar and radio contact were lost shortly after. The vibes are off, no cap.
Who was on board
The flight was carrying six people in total: two pilots, two medical staff, and two passengers (a patient and their relative). According to Clarence Togeretz, director of flight operations at Latitude, the four crew members were Canadian nationals, while the two passengers were Bermudian. The families have been notified.
Why it matters
The U.S. Coast Guard is currently running a massive operation with ships, planes, and helicopters to search for survivors. They’re keeping the mission going through the night, which is honestly main character energy for those rescue teams. It’s a tragic reminder of how quickly things can change in aviation, even with professional medical transport crews.
