Listen to this article
Estimated 2 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for an Ontario-based air ambulance jet that has gone missing with six people on board while flying from Bermuda to Boston Saturday.
The Gulfstream G100 jet with tail number C-GRJP is registered to Latitude Air Ambulance, a Hamilton-based air ambulance provider, according to the tracking website Flightradar24.
There were two pilots and two medical staff — all of whom are Canadian — on board, said Clarence Togeretz, director of flight operations at Latitude.
A patient and their relative were also on board. They are not Canadian and were picked up in Bermuda, Togeretz told CBC in a phone call.
The company lost contact with the jet around 1:30 a.m. today, Togeretz said, adding they are staying optimistic that everyone will be safely found.
Air and surface teams are searching for the aircraft off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, said the U.S. Coast Guard’s northeast division in a post on social media platform X.
It said the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration had reported losing contact with the jet in the early hours of Saturday.
The jet’s last trip was from Hamilton to the North Atlantic island of Bermuda on Friday evening, according to flight history on Flightradar24. Before Friday and Saturday’s flights, the jet had flown within Canada over the past week.
According to Latitude’s website, the company works with global insurance companies, governments and other organizations to provide medical evacuation and repatriation services.
It said each air ambulance flight is staffed with two pilots and a medical team trained to provide any necessary care to patients. The company has four Gulfstream G100 jets in its fleet of 10 aircraft.
CBC News has contacted federal and provincial authorities for more information about the aircraft.
Ontario-based air ambulance service Ornge posted on X, saying their thoughts are with their colleagues at Latitude Air Ambulance.
“All of us at Ornge are hopeful the aircraft and all passengers are located safely and quickly,” it said.
More to come.
