USCG Calls Off Search for Survivors of Medical-Flight Crash off Nantucket
The U.S. Coast Guard launched a large-scale search over the weekend following a report that a medical transport jet went down off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts.
At about 0200 hours on Saturday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration notified the Coast Guard that the Gulfstream G100 (IAI Astra) air ambulance plane had crashed during a flight from Bermuda to Boston. Six people were aboard the aircraft, four flight crew members from Canada and two passengers from Bermuda.
The USCG soon located floating debris in the water near the suspected crash site, and multiple units responded to the scene. In all, three search planes, three helicopter aircrews, one motor lifeboat and the cutter USCGC William Sparling joined the effort at various points over the weekend. Flight tracking data suggests that the incident area was located south of the island over open ocean.
As of Sunday, the responders had searched about 4,400 square miles of ocean. There were no further signs of survivors, and the Coast Guard called off the search effort on Sunday. The next of kin have been notified.
"Suspending a search is not an easy decision," said Rear Adm. Matthew Lake, commander of the Coast Guard's Northeast District. "We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy and our gratitude for our partner agencies who helped support search efforts."
An investigation into the cause of the crash is under way. An early review of flight data shows that the plane slowed down and plummeted from its flight altitude of 24,000 feet just after 0100 hours, an hour before the FAA sounded the alarm, according to the New York Times.
The area where the Coast Guard encountered the debris field is in just 80-90 feet of water, within ready reach for salvage divers in the event that the wreckage can be located.
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The aircraft in question was one of a small fleet of Gulfstream G100 / Astra SPX twin-engine jets operated by Latitude Air Ambulance. It was outfitted for one stretcher, with medical equipment and supplies equivalent to an ICU, including suction and oxygen, according to Latitude.
It was the second crash of a medevac aircraft off the U.S. in a week, following the loss of a helicopter air ambulance off California on Wednesday night.
