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Latitude Air Ambulance G100 crashes south of Nantucket; search ends

An air ambulance flying from Bermuda to Boston crashed after losing contact with air traffic control on October 3. At 2 a.m., the FAA alerted the U.S. Coast Guard to the disappearance of a Gulfstream G100 carrying four Canadian crew members and two Bermudian nationals, a patient and a family escort. During search and rescue operations, debris from the aircraft was found late on October 3 about 20 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The depth of the water around the debris field is 80 to 90 feet. The Coast Guard suspended its search and all six people on board are presumed dead. Next of kin have been notified. "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." The pilot reported electrical problems and declared an emergency as the jet approached the coast, according to air traffic control audio posted by LiveATC.net. The jet had descended sharply from its cruising altitude of about 24,000 ft to about 11,000 ft within minutes, according to preliminary flight tracking data. The operator of the air ambulance, Latitude Air Ambulance, based in Hamilton, Ontario, released a statement acknowledging the end of the search and stating that it will cooperate fully with the NTSB, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and all other relevant authorities as investigators examine the circumstances and cause of the accident. "This is an unimaginable loss for our Latitude family and for everyone who loved the six people aboard Heartbeat 104," said Peter Byl, Latitude Air Ambulance president. "Our focus now is on supporting their families, supporting our people and assisting the authorities. We will honor our colleagues by remembering the care, professionalism, and commitment they brought to their work every day." The Gulfstream G100 is the renamed Astra SPX, originally built by IAI. The Aviation Safety Network's database lists one previous fatal accident involving the Astra family among the roughly 145 aircraft built: the March 2024 approach crash at Hot Springs, Virginia, which the NTSB attributed to an unstabilized approach in gusting winds. The cause of the crash has not been determined. The NTSB and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are investigating.
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