Bermuda Premier Prays for Missing Medical Plane Crew and Passengers
“You’re coming in blind? Is that what you said? Are you declaring an emergency, or no?” an air traffic controller asked a pilot at about 12:46 a.m. on Saturday, according to a recording captured by LiveATC.net. Debris from that missing medical transport plane, which was carrying six people when it vanished over the Atlantic early Saturday during a flight from Bermuda to Boston, has been found by the US Coast Guard, the agency said.
- The missing air ambulance, a Gulfstream G100, was carrying four crew members and two passengers when it disappeared from radar at approximately 1 a.m. local time on Saturday.
- Radar and transmission data show the aircraft reported electrical failures and rapidly descended thousands of feet near Nantucket before losing contact.
- The US Coast Guard deployed boats, planes, and helicopters, searching roughly 1,644 square miles (4,258 square kilometers) over 27 hours, with the cutter William Sparling continuing the search overnight.
Coast Guard Locates Debris Field Off Nantucket
The US Coast Guard announced on Saturday evening that crews searching off the coast of the Massachusetts island Nantucket located a debris field confirmed to be from the missing air ambulance. A spokesperson for the Coast Guard confirmed that all six passengers and crew members remained unaccounted for at the time of the debris field’s discovery. The agency deployed boats, planes, and helicopters after flight controllers lost contact with the aircraft. According to an update issued by abcnews.com, officials believe the plane rapidly descended 7,500 feet before hitting the water. Throughout Saturday, search vehicles scanned approximately 1,644 square miles (4,258 square kilometers) in about 27 hours.
Gulfstream G100 Reports Electrical Failures Near Nantucket
The Gulfstream G100 took off from Bermuda late on Saturday carrying a patient, a family member, and a four-person crew. The Bermuda Skyport Corporation, which operates LF Wade International Airport, stated that the Canadian-registered plane departed around 12:41 a.m. on Saturday. The patient and family member were identified as citizens of Bermuda, while the crew members were identified as Canadian citizens, though names were not immediately released. As the jet neared Nantucket, it reported electrical failures over radio transmissions. FlightAware data shows the plane descended thousands of feet within three minutes and vanished from radar shortly after 1 a.m local time. According to abcnews.com, the Air Ambulance jet was in contact with New York controllers when it declared an emergency, and controllers had trouble hearing the pilots. When responses ceased, a controller had a nearby Ethiopian Airlines jet try to reach them, but received no reply.
Coast Guard Continues Search for Six People
The Coast Guard stated that its William Sparling cutter boat would continue searching for those on board through the night. Bermudian government officials maintained contact with the families of the passengers. Bermuda premier David Burt released a statement saying his thoughts were with everyone on board and their families during a deeply worrying time, adding that prayers remained focused on finding all six people safe while thanking search and rescue crews.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.