Active Search and Rescue Mission Underway for 6 People After Medical Flight Debris Found Near Nantucket

The U.S. Coast Guard said on Sunday it is still searching for six people who were on an air ambulance that went down 20 miles off the coast of Nantucket during the early morning hours of Oct. 3.

The Coast Guard found an 80- to 90-foot debris field on Saturday and has continued its search for any sign of the six people—four Canadian nationals and two citizens of Bermuda—on board the aircraft.

The names and ages of the victims have not been released.

“Because of the the amount of debris, it’s very difficult to get into the details of what’s there,” Lieutenant Commander Castriot Castrati said to reporters on Sunday. “But right now, we’re really just focused on finding the people.”

Additionally, “there’s no indications that we found a black box” among the debris field, Rear Adm. Matt Lake, commander of the Coast Guard Northeast District, said at Coast Guard Base Boston on Sunday.

Lake added that finding the black boxes will be difficult because of the nature of the crash.

On Sunday, the Coast Guard said it was in the process of working with Massachusetts authorities to get a craft that was equipped with sonar, allowing them to enhance detection capabilities on the seabed floor.

Search and rescue teams from stations in Cape Cod, Elizabeth City, and Brant Point have scoured approximately 2,840 square miles over about 53 1/2 hours.

“This is a large and demanding search area. Our crews are employing fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, boats, and cutters to search the area, and we’ll continue to evaluate all available information as our operation progresses,” Lake added.

The Gulfstream G100, with tail number CGRJP, was traveling from L.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda to Boston Logan International Airport overnight when it lost contact with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) just before 1:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The FAA confirmed to The Epoch Times that it issued a Search and Rescue Alert Notice for the plane around 1:20 a.m. ET on Saturday.

The plane was scheduled to arrive in Boston at 1:30 a.m., according to FlightRadar24.com.

The pilot reported electrical problems and declared an emergency as the jet approached the stormy coast, according to air traffic control audio posted by LiveATC.net.

A controller was even heard asking the pilot, “You said you’re coming in blind. Is that what you said?”

The cause of the incident has not been determined.

“I don’t want to speculate on what caused the aircraft to have this this incident,” Lake said during a Sunday morning press conference in Boston. “That’s up to the investigative efforts later.

“I want you to know that my thoughts and those of every Coast Guard crew member are … with the people on that aircraft, their families, their friends, and their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” Lake added.

The Government of Bermuda said it has been in contact with families of those on board.

“My thoughts are with everyone on board and their families during this deeply worrying time,” Bermuda Premier David Burt said in a statement on Saturday.

“We are praying that all six people will be found safe, and we thank the search and rescue crews for their continuing efforts.”

Canada’s Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said on Saturday his thoughts were with everyone on board as well as their their families and loved ones.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and are working with the relevant authorities as search and rescue efforts continue,” MacKinnon wrote in a statement posted on X.

“I want to thank all first responders involved for their ongoing efforts.”