Medical plane goes missing near Nantucket with 6 on board, authorities say

A medical jet with six people on board has gone missing near Nantucket while flying from Bermuda to Boston early Saturday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard and Federal Aviation Administration.

Four of those on board are Canadians, according to Steve MacKinnon, Canada’s minister of transport.

“My thoughts are with everyone on board, as well as their families, loved ones and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time,” MacKinnon said in a statement. “We are closely monitoring the situation and are working with the relevant authorities as search and rescue efforts continue.”

The FAA lost contact with the plane around 1 a.m. local time and issued a Search and Rescue Alert Notice for the Gulfstream G-100.

The search was being conducted off the coast of Nantucket, according to the U.S. Coast Guard Northeast District. The Coast Guard outlined the extensive assets involved in the search, including an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane, HC-130 Hercules airplane, MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat and the FRC William Sparling, a Sentinel-class fast response cutter.

The jet is registered to Canada-based Latitude Air Ambulance, according to the tail number provided by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The plane took off at about 11:40 p.m. ET on Friday, according to data from FlightAware.

Bermuda airport’s operator, Skyport, said in a statement to The Associated Press that the plane departed Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport overnight for the flight to Massachusetts. The Canadian-registered air ambulance jet had four crew members and two passengers aboard. 

The government of Bermuda said on X that they have been in contact with the families of those on board. “We are praying that all six people will be found safe, and we thank the search and rescue crews for their continuing efforts,” said Premier David Burt.

It went missing after about 1 hour and 45 minutes in the air. FlightAware data show it quickly dropped from about 24,000 feet to 11,000 feet before losing contact.

The plane had been set to land at Boston’s Logan International Airport at about 1:30 a.m. local time.