Mother, Son and Canadian Crew Identified in Fatal Medevac Jet Disappearance
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for six people aboard a medical jet that vanished off Nantucket.
The six individuals on board a medical jet en route to Boston from Bermuda have been identified following the U.S. Coast Guard's suspension of its search efforts. The missing aircraft carried a Bermudian mother and son, along with a four-person Canadian flight and medical crew.
Marilyn Lavonne Bean, 66, was being transported for stroke treatment, accompanied by her son, Sergio Wayne Lottimore. The four Canadian crew members identified by the U.S. Coast Guard are Philip Gregory Childerhose, Thomas Henry Farquhar, Sarah Jane Paton, and Jolene Beth Weir. Childerhose served as the captain, and Farquhar as the first officer. Paton was the flight nurse, and Weir was the respiratory therapist.
The Gulfstream G100 disappeared early Saturday while traveling from Bermuda to Boston. The U.S. Coast Guard launched a major search operation off Nantucket, but the search was suspended Sunday after debris associated with the aircraft was located.
Sergio Wayne Lottimore was the senior vice president and head of specialty reinsurance at Hamilton Re, a Bermuda-based company. In a statement, Hamilton Re expressed its heartbreak over the loss of a respected leader and colleague.
The aircraft was operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, a Canadian medical transport company. Latitude Air Ambulance President Peter Byl stated that the company is mourning an "unimaginable loss" and that their focus is on supporting the families of those affected and assisting authorities.
The flight departed Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport late Friday night and was bound for Boston Logan International Airport. According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, the crew reported electrical difficulties as the aircraft approached the Boston area before it descended rapidly and air traffic control lost contact south of Nantucket. Flight data indicated the aircraft descended from 24,000 feet to 11,000 feet in approximately three minutes.
The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Search and Rescue Alert Notice shortly after the disappearance, and Massport confirmed the aircraft never arrived at Boston Logan. A civilian vessel later located debris associated with the aircraft.
Rear Adm. Matthew Lake, commander of the Coast Guard Northeast District, extended condolences to the families and friends of those lost and expressed gratitude to the responding crews and partner agencies. Canada is leading the investigation into the incident, as per international agreements, with the National Transportation Safety Board assisting as the U.S. accredited representative. The cause of the disappearance has not yet been determined.