Search and Rescue Underway After Air Ambulance Carrying Six People Disappears on Flight from Bermuda to Boston

A US coastguard cutter is seen in New York on May 21, 2025 [Richard Drew/AP]. An air ambulance carrying six individuals has gone missing during a flight from Bermuda to Boston.

The US Federal Aviation Administration informed the coastguard early on Saturday that radar and radio contact had been lost with the Gulfstream jet, according to a statement provided by a coastguard spokesperson to the Reuters news agency via email.

In response to the disappearance, the coastguard deployed both air and surface rescue units to conduct a search near Nantucket, an island community located south of mainland Massachusetts. Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board announced on Saturday morning that it was actively gathering details regarding the incident, though no additional updates were immediately available.

Skyport, the operator of Bermuda’s airport, confirmed in an official statement that the Canadian-registered air ambulance jet carried four crew members and two passengers when it took off overnight from Bermuda’s LF Wade International airport bound for Massachusetts.

Canada’s Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon released a social media statement confirming that four of the individuals on board are Canadian citizens. Minister MacKinnon wrote, "We are closely monitoring the situation and are working with the relevant authorities as search and rescue efforts continue."

Flight tracking data from FlightAware indicates that the aircraft, operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, departed Bermuda at 12:41am local time (03:41 GMT). The jet maintained an altitude of 24,000 feet (7,300 metres) for the majority of the journey before rapidly descending 13,000 feet (3,960 metres) over the span of approximately two minutes just prior to the loss of communication.

Audio recordings published by LiveATC.net captured the final moments of radio communication between air traffic control and the aircraft. A controller can be heard asking the pilot, "Roger, you said you’re coming in blind. Is that what you said?" Although the pilot's verbal response was unintelligible on the recording, air traffic controllers verified that the pilot declared an emergency right before contact was completely severed.

Bermuda Premier David Burt issued a statement on Instagram confirming that the Bermuda government remains in close communication with US authorities and the families of those aboard. Premier Burt stated, "We are praying that all six people will be found safe."

Based in Ontario, Canada, Latitude Air Ambulance specializes in medical evacuation services. The company did not immediately provide a response to inquiries for comment regarding the missing flight.