US Coast Guard have described the ongoing search for the missing air ambulance in waters South of Nantucket as a “large and demanding search effort”.
U.S. Coast Guard have described the ongoing search for the missing air ambulance in waters South of Nantucket as a “large and demanding search effort”.
The aircraft was carrying carrying six passengers, a Bermudian patient and family member, two Canadian pilots and two Canadian medical staff.
During a live press conference today from the US Coast Guard Boston Base, Captain John McTamney said that the debris field was discovered around 20 miles off the coast.
Rear Admiral Matthew Lake said the sea floor is around 80 to 90 feet deep in that area, and they would be sourcing crews from the Massachusetts Environmental Police to survey the area using their sonar equipment.
The search extends from about 30 nautical miles wide and 20 nautical miles long, according to the Coast Guard.
There were no indications that the plane’s black box has been found because the debris field is “extensive”.
Rear Admiral Matthew Lake emphasised that the search continues for the Gulstream G100 Astra jet and its passengers, after more than 53 and a half hours.
He said his thoughts “are with the people on board and their families during this deeply worrying time.”
He added that they have been keeping next of kin up to date on the search.
Asked by media what materials have been recovered from the ocean within the debris field, the coast guard said they’re “just interested in finding the people”, and they could not give specifics.
However, they confirmed materials have been preserved for the future investigation by aviation officials.
US Coast Guard officials did not give any details on the identity or sex of the passengers, stating it would not be appropriate to reveal that information at this time out of respect of the families and next of kin.
Our ABC affiliate station WCVB in Boston carried the press conference live from the US Coast Guard Boston Base at noon today.
What we know so far
The medical jet, a Gulfstream G100 Astra operated by Hamilton,Ontario based company Latitude Air Ambulance, suddenly lost contact with air traffic controllers in Boston sometime after departing Bermuda’s L.F.Wade International Airport at 12.41am.
The Federal Aviation Administration, the FAA, notified the US Coast Guard who responded to the alert made at 1.20 am Saturday morning.
Six passengers were on board, 4 Canadian nationals including two pilots and two medical crew plus two Bermudian nationals – a patient and one relative.
The approximate 27 hours search so far has led Coast Guard vessels and air support to identify a debris field that is around 30 nautical miles wide. The overall search covered more than 1600 square miles.
Officials said that weather conditions have been optimal for the search.
