The United States Coast Guard has located the wreckage of a medical flight that went missing over the Atlantic Ocean with six people on board.

The debris was discovered off the coast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, after approximately 27 hours of intensive search operations.

According to a Coast Guard statement, the aircraft lost communication early Saturday (October 3) after departing from Bermuda bound for Boston.

Subsequent searches off Nantucket led to the discovery of a piece of wreckage, which was later confirmed to belong to the missing plane.

The aircraft was operating as an air ambulance carrying a patient, a family member, and four crew members.

The patient and their relative were citizens of Bermuda, while the four crew members were Canadian nationals.

Prior to the disappearance, air traffic controllers experienced difficulties communicating with the pilot.

At around 12:46 AM local time, a controller asked the pilot whether they could see navigational guidance and if they intended to declare an emergency.

However, recorded radio communications captured no response from the pilot.

Radio logs indicate that the aircraft experienced electrical malfunctions as it approached the vicinity of Nantucket.

According to FlightAware data, the plane plunged several thousand feet in a span of just three minutes before disappearing from radar shortly after 1:00 AM local time.

The missing aircraft was a Gulfstream G100 model. Although the wreckage has been located, none of the six occupants have been found thus far.

The Coast Guard is continuing search and rescue efforts using vessels, aircraft, and helicopters.

The Coast Guard reported that the operation spanned approximately 1,644 square miles (4,258 square kilometers) over 27 hours.

The Coast Guard cutter William Sparling also conducted overnight search operations.

Meanwhile, the government of Bermuda remains in contact with the families of the missing individuals.

In a statement, Prime Minister David Burt expressed deep concern and sympathy for the families, while voicing hope for the safe rescue of all six people and thanking the search and rescue teams for their ongoing efforts.
Source: The Guardian