Canada’s public transportation agency leader Steven MacKinnon said Canada was closely monitoring the search for a Nantucket plane that went missing early Saturday after declaring an emergency on a Bermuda-to-Boston flight. The Gulfstream G100 air ambulance had six people aboard, including four Canadian citizens.
The US Coast Guard had been searching since early Saturday. MacKinnon said, “We are closely monitoring the situation and are working with the relevant authorities as search and rescue efforts continue” and added, “I want to thank all first responders involved for their ongoing efforts.”
L. F. Wade International Airport
Ciara Eve said the aircraft left L. F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda at 11:41 p.m. on Friday with four crew members and two passengers aboard. For much of the flight, the plane stayed at 24,000 feet before dropping to 11,000 feet when it was about 128 miles south of Logan International Airport.
New York and Logan International Airport
An air traffic controller in New York said the plane declared an emergency at about 12:46 a.m. and later asked, “You’re coming in blind? Is that what you said?” The controller also asked, “Are you declaring an emergency, or no?” and then said, “You’re coming in a little weak so I didn’t hear what your response was, if you were declaring an emergency or not.”
At 1:12 a.m., a Massport Fire Rescue dispatcher asked emergency crews to prepare to meet a plane with an electrical issue expected to land at Logan International Airport in 10 to 15 minutes. The dispatcher also said, “The aircraft has lost radio and radar,” and the FAA issued a Search and Rescue alert around 1:20 a.m.
Nantucket Memorial Airport
Forty minutes later, the US Coast Guard said it had been notified about the missing aircraft. Nantucket police checked Nantucket Memorial Airport and the island’s southern shoreline and found nothing, while Officers and the Nantucket harbormaster kept monitoring the shoreline on ATVs.
Governor Maura Healey said Saturday her “thoughts and prayers go to to all on board and all involved.” The next step is the continuing Search and Rescue effort, with the missing aircraft still the central question for crews along the route into Boston.
