A medical transport aircraft carrying six people disappeared off the coast of Nantucket early Saturday while flying from Bermuda to Boston, triggering a major search-and-rescue operation.
The Gulfstream G100 departed Bermuda shortly after midnight and was bound for Boston Logan International Airport when the crew reported an emergency. The FAA said contact with the aircraft was lost at around 1:20 a.m.
Radio transmissions reportedly captured the pilot declaring an emergency shortly after departure. Communication later became difficult, with air traffic controllers reporting that the aircraft’s transmission was weak and asking the pilot to confirm the emergency.
Boston Logan was initially notified to prepare for an aircraft experiencing an electrical problem. However, dispatchers later reported that both radio and radar contact had been lost, and the aircraft never reached Boston.
The air ambulance operator said six people were aboard, including four Canadians and two people from Bermuda. Those onboard reportedly included two pilots, two medical crew members, a patient and the patient’s relative.
The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search operation in an area approximately 13 nautical miles off Nantucket, while the FAA coordinated with rescue authorities.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the aircraft to lose communication or what happened after the emergency call. The search and investigation remain ongoing.