A medical transport plane traveling from Bermuda to Boston has ended in tragedy, with all six people aboard now presumed dead. The Gulfstream G100, operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, departed L.F. Wade International Airport at 12:41 a.m. on October 3, carrying a patient, a family escort and four members of the medical team.

The aircraft was expected to reach Boston Logan International Airport but lost contact with air traffic control shortly afterward. Flight data showed the plane dropping from about 24,000 feet to 11,000 feet in just minutes. A debris field was later discovered near Nantucket, and the U.S. Coast Guard eventually suspended its search for survivors.

The plane’s final radio communications revealed that the crew was experiencing serious problems. A controller asked, “You’re coming in blind, is that what you said?” The pilot’s response was difficult to hear, prompting the controller to ask whether the crew was declaring an emergency. The pilot subsequently declared one, but further communication became impossible. Controllers also tried to reach the aircraft through other planes nearby, without success.

Latitude Air Ambulance said it must now face the “heartbreaking reality” that its four crew members, the patient and the patient’s escort are presumed to have died. The company said its focus is supporting the families and assisting authorities. Two people aboard were Bermudian nationals and four were Canadian nationals. Investigators are now working to determine what caused the aircraft to lose communication and crash. 💔