In brief
Six crew and medical staff vanished after a Gulfstream G‑100 deserting contact with Boston air traffic control early Saturday. The aircraft, commissioned by Latitude Air Ambulances, had departed Bermuda for Boston but plummeted from 7,300m to 3,300m before transmissions cut. Search and rescue teams are now combing air and sea around Nantucket, as investigators examine possible mechanical failure or emergency. Authorities have not ruled out any cause after the plane's emergency declaration. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of international medical flights.
Six people aboard a Gulfstream G‑100 medical flight vanished after losing contact with air traffic control early Saturday, prompting an extensive search by the US Coast Guard near Nantucket.
The aircraft, operated by Latitude Air Ambulances, had departed Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport at 23:40 local intending to land at Boston’s Logan International at 1:30 EDT. Flight‑aware data showed the plane’s altitude collapse from about 7,300 m (24,000 ft) to 3,300 m (11,000 ft) shortly before communications went dark.
Air‑traffic‑control transcripts released by the Boston Globe indicated the pilot declared an emergency, but the pilot’s spoken response was inaudible. An area dispatcher later said the aircraft had an “electrical issue,” before reporting that it had lost both radio and radar links.
Aerial and marine teams are conducting an extensive search in the waters off Nantucket, with investigators reviewing possible mechanical failure, but authorities have not yet released the cause or clarified whether any survivors are expected. The incident has raised concerns over the safety of international medical transport operations and the safety protocols for high‑risk cargo flights.
