Search Suspended for Six People After Medical Plane Crashes Near Massachusetts

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for six people who were aboard a medical transport aircraft that crashed off the coast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.

The Gulfstream jet was travelling from Bermuda to Boston’s Logan International Airport when communication with air traffic control was lost. Debris from the aircraft was later discovered off the Massachusetts coast.

The six people on board included four Canadian citizens and two people from Bermuda. The aircraft was operated by Latitude Air Ambulance and was carrying a patient, the patient’s family escort and four members of the medical transport team.

Coast Guard crews conducted an extensive search by air and sea after the crash. Officials said teams covered thousands of miles during the operation before suspending the search.

Rear Admiral Matthew Lake, commander of the Coast Guard’s Northeast District, said suspending the search was not an easy decision. The people aboard the aircraft are presumed dead.

The incident has also prompted investigations by aviation authorities in the United States and Canada. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight information and circumstances surrounding the crash.

For the families of those aboard the aircraft, the end of the search brings a painful new stage as authorities work to recover remains and determine what caused the accident.

The crash highlights the vital role of medical transport aircraft, which carry patients who need specialised care between countries and communities that may be far apart.

Source: Reuters, October 5, 2026