Coast Guard Suspends Search for Vanished Medical Plane Off Nantucket

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Sunday evening it is suspending its search for a Gulfstream G100 twinjet that vanished off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, with six people on board. The decision came more than 40 hours after the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control.

The plane, operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, was en route from Bermuda to Boston Logan International Airport when it disappeared from radar around 1:25 a.m. on Saturday. The flight was carrying four Canadians, including two medics and two pilots, a Bermudian patient, and their relative.

"Suspending a search is not an easy decision," Rear Adm. Matthew Lake, Commander of the Northeast District, said in a statement. "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."

Debris from the aircraft was discovered floating in the ocean near Nantucket, prompting the extensive search operation. Flight tracking data indicated the plane experienced a rapid loss of altitude shortly before disappearing from radar, reportedly dropping from 24,000 feet to 11,000 feet in approximately three minutes.

Last communications between the aircraft and air traffic controllers, captured in audio recordings, suggested a possible emergency declaration before the connection was lost. The Coast Guard had been combing the area for any sign of the plane or its occupants.

Officials have notified the next of kin of the passengers about the suspension of the search. An investigation into the cause of the plane's disappearance is expected to follow.