The US Coast Guard issued a news statement this morning said the search for missing Gulfstream G100 air ambulance C-GRJP continued overnight off the coast of Nantucket Island
Nautical and air rescue crews scour the waters off of Nantucket in search for missing aircraft. Image: United States Coast Guard News
Rescue crews worked overnight into the early hours of Sunday, October 4 in search of the missing Gulfstream G100 jet and its six passengers on board.
The aircraft lost contact with Boston Logan International airport air controllers yesterday after departing the L.F. Wade International Airport at 12.41am. A subsequent notice was sent by Federal Aviation Administration to the US Coast Guard to begin search efforts to locate the air ambulance at 1.20am.
Latitude Air Ambulance, the operators of the air ambulance confirmed six passengers – four Canadian pilot and staff member plus a two Bermudian nationals, a patient and relative were listed on the flight.
Flight data showed the jet suddenly made a sudden drop in altitude, around 9,000 feet within 2 minutes before air controllers lost contact with the pilots.
Following more than 12 hours, the CG confirmed they had identified a debris field in the ocean using boat and air crews in the search.
Coast Guard and partner-agency assets involved in the search include:
- An HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod
- An HC-130 Hercules crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City
- An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod
- 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crews from Coast Guard Station Brant Point
- The crew of Coast Guard Cutter William Sparling, a Boston-based Fast Response Cutter
- Two HH-60 helicopter crews from the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing
- An HC-130 aircraft from the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing
According to the US Coast Guard, they said, “search crews located a debris field that has been confirmed to be associated with the missing aircraft.”
The Coast Guard cutter William Sparling continued to search efforts throughout the night and a total of 1,644 square miles have been searched over approximately 27 hours.
Yesterday, Premier David Burt said, “My thoughts are with everyone on board and their families during this deeply worrying time.
“We are praying that all six people will be found safe, and we thank the search and rescue crews for their continuing efforts.”
A press conference will be held at 12pm (11am EST) at the Coast Guard Base in Boston to update the public.
We’ll provide more information as it becomes available.
