All six passengers presumed dead after plane went missing off US coast

5 October 2026, 04: 33 BST. Updated 1 hour ago.

Key points

• FlightAware's tracker demonstrates that the aircraft significantly dropped in altitude before its communications went dark, plummeting from around 7, 300m (24, 000ft) to 3, 300m (11, 000ft).
• The Federal Aviation Administration lost contact with the Gulfstream G-100 plane just after 01: 00 local time (05: 00 GMT) on Saturday morning.
• On Sunday evening, the United States Coast Guard remarked it was ending its search for survivors off the coast of Nantucket, a Massachusetts island.
• An area fire dispatcher asked emergency crews just after 01: 00 EDT to prepare to meet a plane with an "electrical issue".
• Latitude Air Ambulance is a Canadian firm that provides international medical flights for patients returning home.

Six individuals aboard a medical transport aircraft that went missing on Saturday while it was travelling from Bermuda to Boston are presumed dead, according to a statement from the flight's operator.

"We must now face the heartbreaking reality that the four members of our Latitude team, our patient and the patient's family escort, who were aboard Heartbeat 104, are presumed to have died, " Latitude Air Ambulance remarked in an official note shortly thereafter.

"Our thoughts are first and foremost with their families, loved ones, friends, and colleagues."

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration lost contact with the Gulfstream G-100 plane just after 01: 00 local time (05: 00 GMT) on Saturday morning.

On Saturday evening, authorities located a "debris field" confirmed to be from the aircraft.

For context, the plane had departed from Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport at 23: 40 local time on Friday night, according to flight data from FlightAware, and was due to land at Boston's Logan International at 01: 30 EDT (05: 30 GMT). Four Canadian nationals and two Bermudian nationals were onboard.

"This is an unimaginable loss for our Latitude family and for everyone who loved the six people aboard Heartbeat 104, " remarked Peter Byl, President of Latitude Air Ambulance, on Sunday evening.

"Our focus now is on supporting their families, supporting our individuals and assisting the authorities. We will honour our colleagues by remembering the care, professionalism, and commitment they brought to their work every day."

Two pilots and two medical staff, both Canadian, had flown to Bermuda to collect a patient and their relative, Clarence Togeretz, director of flight operations at Latitude, informed CBC News.

Radio transmissions show trouble with communications between the air traffic controller and the pilot, the Boston Globe documented, based on transmissions provided by LiveATC.net.

"You're coming in blind? Is that what you remarked?" the air traffic controller asked. "Are you declaring an emergency, or no?" The pilot's response was inaudible.

"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 remarked, according to the Globe.

Notably, the air traffic controller afterwards confirmed the pilot had declared an emergency.

For context, an area fire dispatcher asked emergency crews just after 01: 00 EDT to prepare to meet a plane with an "electrical issue". The dispatcher afterwards stated "the aircraft has lost radio and radar".

Latitude remarked in its statement on Sunday evening that it would continue to cooperate with relevant authorities during ongoing recovery efforts and investigations.

"Determining the circumstances and cause of an aviation accident is a careful and methodical process, and we will not speculate about what occurred, " the firm stated.

Taken together, the developments around all six passengers presumed dead after plane went missing off US coast point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.