Search continues for missing Ontario air ambulance with six people off Massachusetts coast

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for an Ontario-based air ambulance carrying six people that went missing off the coast of Massachusetts early Saturday.

The Gulfstream G100 jet, registered to Hamilton-based Latitude Air Ambulance, lost contact while flying from Bermuda to Boston with four Canadian crew members and two Bermuda nationals on board.

Clarence Togeretz, director of flight operations at Latitude, said the company is dealing with the situation with as much positivity and optimism as it can.

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The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it issued a search and rescue alert for the jet at 1:20 a.m. ET Saturday after losing contact. The flight had departed from Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport and was scheduled to land at Boston Logan International Airport around 1:30 a.m.

The Coast Guard's northeast division said air and surface crews are searching off the coast of Nantucket, an island about 150 kilometres southeast of Boston. The search includes an airplane and helicopter from Cape Cod, a motor lifeboat and the patrol ship William Sparling.

Togeretz said the missing aircraft was transporting a patient and a family member, with two pilots and two medical staff on board. The four crew are Canadian, while the two passengers are Bermuda nationals.

Latitude had been tracking the flight and lost contact with it around 1:30 a.m. as it was approaching Boston, Togeretz said. When the plane failed to land, the company notified the U.S. Coast Guard.

According to flight tracking data from FlightAware, the jet dropped from an altitude of about 7,300 metres to 3,400 metres at approximately 1 a.m. ET before stabilizing. Data from Flight Aware shows the aircraft slowing down as it dropped from 24,000 feet to 11,000 feet around 1:05 a.m. before losing contact.

Nantucket Memorial Airport in Massachusetts was informed the aircraft had reportedly declared an emergency before it lost contact, airport spokesperson Preston Harimon said. Details regarding the circumstances of the incident remain unconfirmed, Harimon said.

The Nantucket Police Department said it was requested to check the airport and the southern shoreline for the plane but it was not located. The department said it has been monitoring the southern shore on ATV with both police and Harbour Master's Office staff since sunrise.

Togeretz said this is the first time Latitude Air Ambulance has lost contact with one of its planes. The company's website states it operates four Gulfstream G100 jets, which it calls the longest range dedicated medevac aircraft in North America.

Federal Transportation Minister Steven MacKinnon said he had been made aware of the incident. He said the government is closely monitoring the situation and working with the relevant authorities as search and rescue efforts continue.

Bermuda Premier David Burt said the Bermudan government is in contact with the families of those on board and with overseas authorities coordinating the search. He said they are praying that all six people will be found safe and thanked the search and rescue crews for their continuing effort.

Ontario's air ambulance service provider Ornge said it was deeply concerned by reports of the missing flight, which was not related to its operations. Spokesperson Joshua McNamara said their thoughts are with the crew, passengers, their families, and everyone at Latitude Air Ambulance.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is gathering information on the missing jet to assess what has happened, spokesperson Hugo Fontaine said.

With files from The Canadian Press, CityNews and CBC News