UPDATE â October 5: All six people aboard a Latitude Air Ambulance jet that disappeared while flying from Bermuda to Boston are now presumed dead after the U.S. Coast Guard ended its search for survivors off Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Latitude Air Ambulance confirmed the devastating development Sunday evening, saying the four members of its team, the patient and the patient’s family escort aboard Heartbeat 104 are presumed to have died. Four of those aboard were Canadian nationals and two were Bermudian nationals.
The U.S. Coast Guard has ended its search for survivors after a debris field confirmed to be associated with the missing Gulfstream G100 was located south of Nantucket. Latitude Air Ambulance says the six people aboard are presumed dead. The company said it will continue cooperating with authorities during recovery efforts and the investigation into the accident. Officials have not determined what caused the aircraft to go down.
BREAKING: Air ambulance carrying 6 people disappears from radar off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts – USCG pic.twitter.com/gdYDnDe6NE
â BNO News (@BNONews) October 3, 2026
Coast Guard Ends Search for Survivors
The U.S. Coast Guard ended its search for survivors Sunday evening after an extensive operation in waters off Nantucket following the disappearance of the Latitude Air Ambulance aircraft.
Search crews had earlier located a debris field south of Nantucket that authorities confirmed was associated with the missing Gulfstream G100.
Latitude Air Ambulance issued a statement shortly after the Coast Guard ended the search, saying it must now face the “heartbreaking reality” that the four members of its team, the patient and the patient’s family escort aboard Heartbeat 104 are presumed to have died.
Company president Peter Byl described the incident as an unimaginable loss for the Latitude team and everyone who loved the six people aboard. The company said its focus is now on supporting the families and its employees while assisting authorities.
Who Was Aboard Heartbeat 104?
The Gulfstream G100 was carrying six people on the medical transport flight from Bermuda to Boston:
- Two Canadian pilots
- Two Canadian medical staff members
- One Bermudian patient
- One Bermudian family escort
Four people aboard were Canadian nationals and two were Bermudian nationals. The medical crew had travelled to Bermuda to collect the patient and accompanying relative for the flight to Boston.
Debris From Gulfstream G100 Found Off Nantucket
The Coast Guard confirmed Saturday evening that crews had located a debris field associated with the missing aircraft south of Nantucket.
The discovery followed a large air-and-sea response involving Coast Guard aircraft, helicopters, rescue boats and the fast response cutter William Sparling.
Crews searched approximately 1,644 square miles over about 27 hours during an earlier stage of the operation, with the William Sparling continuing the search overnight.
Flight Lost Contact After Emergency Declaration
The Gulfstream G100 departed Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport at about 11:40 p.m. local time Friday and was scheduled to arrive at Boston Logan International Airport at approximately 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
The Federal Aviation Administration lost contact with the aircraft shortly after 1 a.m.
Air traffic control communications reported by the Boston Globe indicate controllers were having difficulty hearing the pilot as the emergency developed.
A controller attempted to determine whether the aircraft was “coming in blind” and whether the pilot was declaring an emergency. The controller later confirmed that an emergency had been declared.
An area fire dispatcher also told emergency crews to prepare for an arriving aircraft experiencing an electrical issue. The dispatcher subsequently reported that the aircraft had lost radio and radar contact.
Aircraft Dropped Sharply Before Tracking Ended
Flight-tracking data shows the Gulfstream was flying at approximately 24,000 feet before undergoing a significant loss of altitude.
The aircraft dropped to around 11,000 feet before its tracking information disappeared, according to publicly available flight data cited in reports.
The aircraft never reached Boston Logan International Airport.
The reported electrical problem, emergency declaration and rapid descent are expected to form part of the investigation, but authorities have not established the cause of the accident.
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Medical Flight Was Returning From Bermuda
The aircraft was operated by Canada-based Latitude Air Ambulance, which provides international medical transportation for patients, including flights used to return patients home or move them for medical care.
Two pilots and two medical staff members had flown to Bermuda to collect the patient and accompanying relative before beginning the flight to Boston.
Recovery Efforts and Investigation Continue
Although the Coast Guard’s search for survivors has ended, Latitude Air Ambulance said it will continue cooperating with the relevant authorities during recovery efforts and investigations.
The company cautioned against speculation about the cause, saying determining the circumstances of an aviation accident requires a careful and methodical process.
Investigators are expected to examine available air traffic control communications, flight-tracking data, aircraft records and recovered wreckage as they work to establish what happened to Heartbeat 104.
For now, authorities have announced no final determination about the cause of the accident.
Latitude Air Ambulance Mourns Six People Aboard
Latitude Air Ambulance said its thoughts are with the families, loved ones, friends and colleagues of those aboard.
Byl said the company would remember its colleagues for the care, professionalism and commitment they brought to their work.
The end of the Coast Guard survivor search marks a tragic turn in the incident, shifting the response from an urgent search-and-rescue operation toward recovery efforts and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the loss of the aircraft.
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