The US Coast Guard has launched an urgent search and rescue operation after a medical evacuation aircraft carrying six people went missing while en route from Bermuda to Boston.
The plane, operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, vanished from radar early this morning after failing to reach its destination. Flight tracking data provided by FlightAware reveals a concerning trajectory for the flight, which experienced a rapid loss of altitude shortly after 1:00 a.m.
According to the data, the aircraft plummeted approximately 11,000 feet from its cruising altitude of 25,000 feet within a short window. A final transmission or “ping” from the aircraft was recorded at roughly 1:30 a.m., just moments before it was scheduled to begin its approach into Boston.
Search efforts are currently concentrated in the waters near Nantucket, Massachusetts, where the Coast Guard is coordinating an expansive sweep of the area. While the identities of those on board have not yet been released, the aircraft is typically staffed by a specialized medical and flight crew, including two pilots, a nurse, and a respiratory therapist.
Clarence Togeretz, the Director of Flight Operations for Latitude Air Ambulance, addressed the situation in a statement to NBC News, acknowledging the gravity of the silent flight logs.
“We always get rather concerned when our crew doesn’t report to us in a timely manner,” Togeretz said. However, he maintained a stance of cautious hope, adding, “But I will say that again, optimistically and positively, that doesn’t mean that the worst has happened.”
The disappearance comes as a major blow to the medical evacuation service, which was reportedly returning from a mission in Bermuda at the time the communication was lost. The rapid drop in altitude noted in flight records has raised significant questions regarding the cause of the incident, though officials have yet to speculate on whether a technical failure or external factor was responsible.
The Coast Guard has deployed assets to the region to navigate the search, which faces the challenges of the open Atlantic. As the sun rises over the search zone, authorities are working to locate any debris or signs of life that could confirm the aircraft’s final position.
Families of those aboard are awaiting news as the search enters a critical phase. Aviation experts are expected to assist in the investigation, analyzing the flight data to determine why the plane suffered such a sudden decline in altitude.
This is a breaking news story; further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
