Live Updates | Air Ambulance Tragedy
[Updating] An air ambulance carrying six people lost contact with the FAA early Saturday morning [Oct 3] while travelling from Bermuda to Boston. Search crews found debris from the aircraft off Nantucket, the Coast Guard has now suspended the search, and Latitude Air Ambulance said the crew and passengers are ‘presumed to have died’.
We are providing updates as able on this very tragic situation, please scroll to the bottom for the latest.
Saturday | U.S. Coast Guard’s First Statement
They tweeted, “USCG is searching for a Gulfstream aircraft with 6 persons on board. FAANews reported losing contact w/the aircraft early Saturday morning. USCG air & surface crews have launched in search of the aircraft.
“The plane was traveling from Bermuda to Boston. Current search area is off the coast of Nantucket. Aircraft is a Gulfstream G100,” the U.S. Coast Guard posted, and their statement and the search for the plane is now being widely reported by US and online media.
Bernews asked the U.S. Coast Guard for additional information and they said, “The U.S. Coast Guard is actively searching for a missing Gulfstream G-100 medical transfer aircraft with six people on board.
“At approximately 2AM Saturday, the federal aviation administration notified the Coast Guard command center that they lost contact with the aircraft while it was traveling from Bermuda to Boston. The aircraft has been identified from FAA as Gulfstream G-100 tail number C-GRJP.
“The current search area is offshore of Nantucket. Coast Guard, air and surface crews are actively responding, including: Air Station Cape Cod: HC-144 and MH-60, Station Brant Point: 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew, >USCGC William Sparling: Fast Response Cutter. The Coast Guard will continue searching and provide additional information as it becomes available.”
Image via Latitude Air Ambulance, showing their fleet including CRJP, the plane being searched for
Saturday | Skyport Bermuda Statement
Skyport said they “can confirm that a Canadian-registered air ambulance departed L.F. Wade International Airport for Boston at approximately 12:41 am on Saturday, October 3, 2026, with six souls on board, including four crew members and two passengers.
“The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] has advised that air traffic controllers subsequently lost contact with the aircraft off the coast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, and a search is currently underway. Skyport has no further information to provide at this time.”
Saturday | Bermuda Government Statement
Update 12.29pm: A spokesperson said, “The Government of Bermuda confirms that an air ambulance which departed Bermuda for Boston early this morning, carrying six people, has been reported missing after contact was lost with air traffic control.
“The United States Coast Guard is conducting search and rescue operations off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The Government has been in contact with the families of those on board and remains in contact with the overseas authorities coordinating the search.
Premier David Burt said, “My thoughts are with everyone on board and their families during this deeply worrying time. We are praying that all six people will be found safe, and we thank the search and rescue crews for their continuing efforts.”
A spokesperson added, “The Government asks that the privacy of the families be respected and will provide further updates as confirmed information becomes available.”
Saturday | Additional Information
The plane was operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, and according to reporting from the Canadian press the four crew on board [two pilots and two medical staff] are Canadian, and they traveled to Bermuda to pick up a patient and their relative.
The graphic below, courtesy of Flight Radar, shows the search patterns of the U.S Coast Guard aircraft
Saturday | Update 12.51pm: The U.S. Coast Guard said their team searching for the air ambulance include:
- HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod
- HC-130 Hercules crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City
- MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod
- 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Brant Point
- Coast Guard Cutter William Sparling, a Boston-based Fast Response Cutter
Saturday | Update: According to the Nantucket Memorial Airport the aircraft reportedly declared an emergency before losing contact and ATC audio indicates they contacted ATC before losing contact. The Nantucket press report that the Nantucket Police and Nantucket Harbormaster personnel are searching for the aircraft along the shore of their island.
Saturday | Canadian and Massachusetts Government Statements
Update 5.39pm: Canada’s Minister of Transportation Steven MacKinnon said, “I am aware of reports of a Canadian-registered air ambulance aircraft that went missing while travelling from Bermuda to Boston.
“Four Canadians are among the six people on board. My thoughts are with everyone on board, as well as their families, loved ones and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and are working with the relevant authorities as search and rescue efforts continue. I want to thank all first responders involved for their ongoing efforts.”
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said, “My thoughts and prayers go to all on board and all involved. We’ll do whatever we can as a state to support efforts there.”
Saturday | Search Planes
Update 6.26pm: The two U.S. Coast Guard planes are the most tracked aircraft on FlightRadar now, you can track them here.
The Boston Globe reports that at around 1:12am [likely meaning local time in Boston, so 2.12am Bermuda time] a Massport Fire Rescue dispatcher asked emergency crews to prepare to meet a plane with an ‘electrical issue’ that was expected to land at Logan International Airport, according to radio communications captured by Broadcastify, and Massport Fire Rescue began staging to meet the plane, which never arrived.
Update 8.40pm: The U.S. Coast Guard just said, “Search efforts will continue through the night and until further notice. We will update as we get more information.”
Online flight trackers are now showing a Lockheed Martin MC-130J Super Hercules [a military transport plane] and two HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters [search and rescue aircraft], listed as U.S. military, repeatedly flying back and forth in the same area that the U.S Coast Guard has been flying in all day.
Update 9.40pm: The U.S. Coast Guard said the “CGC William Sparling will continue search efforts throughout the night for the 6 people aboard the Gulfstream Aircraft that went missing this morning” and they also confirmed that “the Air National Guard has two aircraft searching as well.”
Sunday Updates | Debris From Aircraft Found
Update Early Sunday Morning: The USCG confirmed they have found debris from the aircraft.
A spokesperson said, “The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing to search Saturday for six people aboard a missing medical transport aircraft after search crews located a debris field confirmed to be from the aircraft off the coast of Nantucket.
“Coast Guard search crews located a debris field that has been confirmed to be associated with the missing aircraft. Crews are continuing to search for the six people who were aboard the aircraft and the Coast Guard cutter William Sparling will continue search efforts throughout the night.”
Sunday | Update 1pm: Video of the US Coast Guard press conference held today.
They confirmed they have located the debris field approximately 20 miles off Nantucket, have searched approximately 2,840 square miles, and working to get sonar equipped craft to search the seabed floor.
Sunday | Update 8.30pm: The search is now suspended
The US Coast Guard has officially confirmed that they have “suspended its search Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026 for the six passengers” on the air ambulance and said they “express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy.”
“Suspending a search is not an easy decision,” said Rear Adm. Matthew Lake, Commander of the 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.”
Monday | Latitude Air Ambulance said they “are presumed to have died”
A spokesperson said, “It is with profound sadness that we acknowledge the decision by the United States Coast Guard to conclude active search and rescue operations and transition to recovery efforts.
“Given the information shared by authorities and the conclusion of the search and rescue phase, we must now face the heartbreaking reality that the four members of our Latitude team, our patient and the patient’s family escort, who were aboard Heartbeat 104, are presumed to have died.
Monday | Police Identify Bermudian Mother and Son Onboard
The Bermuda Police have now officially confirmed that the two Bermudians on the air ambulance that went missing were 66-year-old Marilyn Lavonne Bean and her 41-year-old son Sergio Wayne Lottimore.
Monday | Canada To Lead Air Ambulance Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will lead the investigation into the air ambulance tragedy, and will also “deploy investigators to assist in the search and recovery of the aircraft.”
Monday | Condolences Expressed
Premier David Burt and Health Minister Kim Wilson [link], Opposition Leader Ben Smith [link], Hamilton Re and Warwick Academy [link] and the PLP [link] all expressed condolences.
Monday | Latitude Pays Tribute To Four Crew Members
Latitude Air Ambulance has paid tribute to Captain Philip Childerhose, First Officer Thomas Farquhar, Flight Nurse Sarah Paton and Respiratory Therapist Jolene Weir, the four crew members.
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