Aviation News – Search and rescue operations are underway off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, after a Canadian air ambulance carrying six people crashed into the sea early Saturday morning. The IAI 1125 Astra SPX jet, operated by Ontario-based Latitude Air Ambulance, lost contact overnight during a medical evacuation flight from Bermuda to Boston.
The U.S. Coast Guard deployed both air and surface rescue units around 1:30 a.m. Saturday after losing radar tracking and communications with flight HTT104. The aircraft, registered as C-GRJP, was carrying two Canadian pilots, two Canadian medical personnel, one patient, and a patient relative. Rescue crews located floating aircraft debris in the search area off Nantucket later that afternoon as search efforts continued.
The ambulance aircraft originated its journey from Hamilton, Ontario, where Latitude Air Ambulance maintains its primary headquarters and operations base. The jet flew to Bermuda on Friday evening to perform a scheduled medical pickup before departing toward Boston Logan International Airport. Company officials confirmed the sequence of events and are coordinating closely with international air safety authorities and maritime search agencies.
The IAI 1125 Astra SPX is a high-speed, long-range twin-engine business jet frequently deployed for medevac operations due to its rapid cruising speed and specialized medical interior. The sudden loss of signal during a critical transoceanic transit segment highlights the operational demands placed on aeromedical teams navigating night flights over open water. Search teams continue using radar and visual sweeps to evaluate ocean currents and debris fields near the crash site.
“Our immediate focus remains entirely on supporting the search and rescue efforts coordinated by the U.S. Coast Guard,” stated a representative from Latitude Air Ambulance regarding the severity of the situation. “We are working directly with emergency agencies and maritime search teams to determine precisely what occurred during the flight.”
The tragedy emphasizes the critical role and inherent risks involved in international air ambulance missions operating in non-radar oceanic airspace. Investigative agencies, including air safety investigators, will begin analyzing flight data, telemetry, and recovered wreckage once search teams secure the site. The aviation industry will closely monitor the investigation results to evaluate safety procedures during specialized patient transit flights.
Emergency response units will continue maritime search operations off the Massachusetts coast throughout the weekend to locate all remaining wreckage and individuals onboard. Federal aviation safety authorities are preparing to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the flight history, environmental conditions, and mechanical systems of the aircraft. Further official updates will follow as recovery operations progress in the North Atlantic search grid.