Debris found from missing US plane

US authorities have discovered debris from a medical transport aircraft that went missing off the US coast, carrying six people. The Federal Aviation Administration reported losing contact with the Gulfstream G-100 plane around 01:00 local time on Saturday while en route from Bermuda to Boston, Massachusetts. The search for survivors is ongoing near Nantucket, a Massachusetts island, according to the US Coast Guard.

Authorities have already informed the next of kin of those on board, consisting of four Canadian nationals and two Bermudian nationals. The Coast Guard shared an update on Saturday night, confirming the debris field off Nantucket's coast as originating from the aircraft. Ships, helicopters, and planes have been actively involved in the search efforts throughout the night.

The flight departed Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport at 23:40 local time and was scheduled to land at Boston's Logan International Airport at 01:30 EDT (05:30 GMT). According to the tail number released by the Coast Guard, the plane was operated by Latitude Air Ambulances, a company specializing in international medical flights.

Among the crew were two pilots and two medical staff, all Canadian, according to Clarence Togeretz, director of flight operations at Latitude. The crew transported a patient and their relative to Bermuda. FlightAware's tracker revealed that the aircraft experienced a significant drop in altitude before losing communication, plummeting from about 7,300m (24,000ft) to 3,300m (11,000ft).

Radio transmissions indicated communication issues between the air traffic controller and the pilot, with the air traffic controller asking if an emergency had been declared. The pilot's response was inaudible. The pilot declared an emergency, which was confirmed by the air traffic controller. Just after 01:00 EDT, an area fire dispatcher instructed emergency crews to prepare for a plane with an "electrical issue," at which point the Coast Guard stated that the aircraft had lost radio and radar communication. The Coast Guard pledged to deliver an update on Sunday morning local time.