The US Coast Guard found debris from the air ambulance that went missing off the shore of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.
The medical evacuation jet, a Canadian-registered Gulfstream G100 operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, left Bermuda's LF Wade International Airport at around 12:41 am local time on Saturday.
The aircraft was headed to Logan International Airport with six people on board.
A debris field linked to the aircraft was found by the Coast Guard of Nantucket. "Search crews located a debris field confirmed to be from the aircraft off the coast of Nantucket," the US Coast Guard said in an update on Saturday night.
The Coast Guard said that the one of its cutters would keep searching the water overnight for the six people on board.
The jet had four crew members, two pilots and two medical staff and two passengers on board when it departed Bermuda overnight, according to Skyport, Bermuda airport operator.
Canada’s Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon said in a social media post that four Canadians were on the plane. He added that he is “working with the relevant authorities as search and rescue efforts continue” and thanked first responders.
FlightAware trackers showed the aircraft dropped in altitude before its communication went dark.
The aircraft plummeted from around 7,300m to 3,300m.
Radio transmission showed trouble with communication between the air traffic controller and the pilot, according to a transmission provided by LiveATC.net, seen by the Boston Globe.
The air traffic controller is heard asking, "You're coming in blind? Is that what you said?” "Are you declaring an emergency, or no?"
"You're coming in a little weak, so I didn't hear what your response was, if you were declaring an emergency or not," the air traffic controller said, according to the Boston Globe.
The air traffic controller later confirmed the pilot declared an emergency. The pilot's transmission could not be heard in the recording.
An area fire dispatch asked emergency crew to prepare to meet a plane with an electrical issue just after 01:00.
The Bermuda government is in contact with US authorities and families of the passengers, Bermuda Premier David Burt said in a statement on Instagram.
The Coast Guard said multiple air and surface crews were looking for the aircraft, including Ocean Sentry HC-144 and MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod; a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat from Station Brant Point; a Fast Response cutter from ship USCGC William Sparling; and the HC-130 Hercules from Air Station Elizabeth City, the New York Post reported.
The rescue mission is searching 13 nautical miles of the coast of Nantucket and extends 30 nautical miles wide and 20 nautical miles long, according to the Coast Guard.
