The United States Coast Guard has confirmed finding a debris field from a medical transport aircraft that vanished off the coast of Nantucket island while flying from Bermuda to Boston, as the search continued for the six people on board.
The Federal Aviation Administration notified the Coast Guard at around 2 am local time on Saturday after losing contact with the Gulfstream G-100 aircraft, tail number C-GRJP. The plane, operated by Canadian medical evacuation company Latitude Air Ambulance, had departed L.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda bound for Boston Logan International Airport.
Flight tracking data shows the jet dropped sharply in altitude, plunging from about 24,000 feet to around 11,000 feet in a matter of minutes before its communications went dark. Air traffic control audio indicates the pilot reported electrical problems and declared an emergency as the aircraft approached the coast. "Roger, you said you're coming in blind. Is that what you said?" a controller can be heard asking, before the pilot's response became inaudible.
The Coast Guard confirmed that six people were aboard — four Canadian nationals and two Bermudian nationals — and said their next of kin had been notified. A Coast Guard statement said search crews had located a debris field "confirmed to be associated with the missing aircraft," and that the cutter William Sparling would continue search efforts through the night. Searchers have covered more than 2,800 square miles with help from the New York National Guard and Massachusetts authorities, using sonar equipment in waters estimated to be 80 to 90 feet deep.
Canadian Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said authorities were closely monitoring the situation and working with the relevant agencies as search and rescue efforts continued.
Sources: IANS, CNN
The Federal Aviation Administration notified the Coast Guard at around 2 am local time on Saturday after losing contact with the Gulfstream G-100 aircraft, tail number C-GRJP. The plane, operated by Canadian medical evacuation company Latitude Air Ambulance, had departed L.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda bound for Boston Logan International Airport.
Flight tracking data shows the jet dropped sharply in altitude, plunging from about 24,000 feet to around 11,000 feet in a matter of minutes before its communications went dark. Air traffic control audio indicates the pilot reported electrical problems and declared an emergency as the aircraft approached the coast. "Roger, you said you're coming in blind. Is that what you said?" a controller can be heard asking, before the pilot's response became inaudible.
The Coast Guard confirmed that six people were aboard — four Canadian nationals and two Bermudian nationals — and said their next of kin had been notified. A Coast Guard statement said search crews had located a debris field "confirmed to be associated with the missing aircraft," and that the cutter William Sparling would continue search efforts through the night. Searchers have covered more than 2,800 square miles with help from the New York National Guard and Massachusetts authorities, using sonar equipment in waters estimated to be 80 to 90 feet deep.
Canadian Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said authorities were closely monitoring the situation and working with the relevant agencies as search and rescue efforts continued.
Sources: IANS, CNN
