BOSTON— The Coast Guard has suspended its search Sunday for the six passengers aboard the missing medical transport aircraft off the coast of Nantucket.
At approximately 2:00 a.m., Saturday, the Federal Aviation Administration notified the Coast Guard that contact had been lost with the Gulfstream G100 aircraft while it was traveling from Bermuda to Boston.
There were six passengers aboard the aircraft, including four Canadian nationals and two Bermuda nationals. Next of kin have been notified.
Coast Guard and partner agency assets searched 4445 miles over approximately 66 hours.
“Suspending a search is not an easy decision,” said Rear Adm. Matthew Lake, Commander of the Northeast District, “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.”
Agencies participating in the search include:
- An HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod
- An HC-130 Hercules crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod
- An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod
- 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crews from Coast Guard Station Brant Point
- The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter William Sparling, a Boston-based Fast Response Cutter
- Two HH-60 helicopter crews from the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing
- An HC-130 aircraft from the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing
A future investigation into the cause of the incident will be coordinated by the appropriate investigative authorities.
The Coast Guard also suspended its search Sunday for a 37-year-old person reported missing in the water near Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts.
At approximately 4:27 p.m. Saturday, Coast Guard Sector Boston watchstanders received a report of a recreational vessel maneuvering in slow circles south of Graves Beach with no people visible aboard.
Coast Guard Sector Boston issued a distress broadcast and Coast Guard Station Gloucester launched a 29-ft Response Boat-small crew, located the runaway vessel, and recovered a dog from the distressed boat. The dog has been reunited with its family. The vessel was subsequently salvaged by commercial assistance.
A search for people in the water began immediately. Manchester-by-the-Sea Harbormaster and Massachusetts State Police confirmed that three people had initially been aboard the vessel. Beverly and Manchester-by-the-Sea Harbormasters each recovered one person from the water. One person was transported by MedFlight to Massachusetts General Hospital. The second person was transported to Beverly Hospital and was reported deceased upon arrival.
Coast Guard crews and partner agencies searched continuously for the remaining missing person. At approximately 9:44 a.m. Sunday, Massachusetts Environmental Police began searching the area with side-scan sonar and a dive team.
“The decision to suspend a search is never made lightly,” said Capt. Jamie Frederick, Sector Boston Commander. “Our deepest condolences are with the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy. We are grateful to our local, state, and federal partners who supported the search efforts.”
Agencies participating in the search included Coast Guard Sector Boston, Coast Guard Station Gloucester, Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Salem Harbormaster, Beverly Harbormaster, Marblehead Harbormaster, Gloucester Harbormaster, Manchester-by-the-Sea Harbormaster, Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Department, Gloucester Police Department, Northeast Municipal Law Enforcement Council, Beverly Fire Department, Massachusetts Environmental Police and Massachusetts State Police.
