Coast Guard Called Off Search After Medical Jet Traveling to Boston From Bermuda Vanished Not Far From Nantucket
NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS (October 7, 2026) — Six missing people have been presumed deceased after a medical jet reportedly crashed off the coast of Massachusetts near Nantucket.
Massachusetts officials are saying that a medical jet reportedly vanished as it was traveling to Boston from Bermuda. The flight carried a mother and son along with four air ambulance crew members.
The US Coast Guard began looking for the missing craft after it vanished. Authorities have since released the names of the people who were on the jet.
They include Philip Gregory Childerhose, Thomas Henry Farquhar, Sarah Jane Paton and Jolene Beth Weir. Two Bermuda residents were identified as Marilyn Lavonne Bean and Sergio Wayne Lottimore.
There is no word yet on what may have contributed to the accident. The US Coast Guard has also indicated that they have since called off the search to find those on board the plane.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Medical Jet Crashes
Medical jets are considered common carriers and their pilots are expected to operate with an abundance of caution to avoid collisions. Aircraft owners can be held responsible for even the slightest negligence of their pilots. These aircraft are also subject to 14 C.F.R. § 91.13, which strictly prohibits any careless or reckless operation that could endanger the lives of passengers. Courts will typically review numerous pieces of evidence when evaluating legal responsibility for any aircraft accident.
- Flight Planning: It matters whether there were adequate fuel reserves and alternate routes that an aircraft may have taken before it was involved in a collision.
- Aircraft Condition: The condition that the aircraft was in is also important. The maintenance records can help identify any unresolved defects or conditions that may have affected critical systems.
- Operational Decisions: The decisions of the pilots and their communications can also shed a great deal of light on what may have contributed to the crash.
Depending on the unique facts of any case, there could be many liable parties for any accident involving a commercial aircraft. Consider, for example, Power Service Supply, Inc. v. E. W. Wiggins Airways, Inc. That case involved a helicopter that overturned into a Massachusetts pond as it was attempting to land. One of the passengers was injured during the landing attempt and filed the lawsuit. The plaintiff’s legal counsel presented evidence that a rotor control bolt came loose due to a missing securing pin.
Steps to Take After Medical Jet Crashes
Most plane crashes that occur each year take place in private aviation with smaller planes. Commercial airlines are actually extremely safe and many years do not have any reported fatalities whatsoever. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, “After two consecutive years with airline passenger fatalities, there were no fatal accidents involving Part 121 air carriers in 2020. In seven of the last 10 years, there have been no airline passenger fatalities.” This is partly due to the fact that smaller aircraft tend to lack the safety redundancies of larger planes, including multiple pilots and multiple engines. Several steps should be taken after any accident involving a medical jet.
- The event data recorder for the jet involved should be located and preserved.
- All of the communication between the pilots and the traffic control tower should be reviewed.
- The maintenance history of the aircraft involved in the accident should also be carefully studied.
- Family members of those who died in a crash should carefully consider legal options with a team experienced in accident claims.
Airplane crashes are often highly complex events. Many different factors may contribute to any specific incident. This can include negligence on the part of the pilot, which is a major factor in most fatal plane collisions. But there can also be errors across the board that should be thoroughly considered. Victims of aviation disasters should understand that they do have legal rights and protections. Among other things, their surviving family members are able to pursue some measure of accountability and justice through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Massachusetts Medical Jet Crashes
We at DiBella Law were deeply saddened to hear about the tragic accident near Nantucket that involved the presumed deaths of six people. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the FAA. There needs to be accountability and transparency so that similar incidents do not take place. Many important safety questions have yet to be addressed.
Do you need more information about a medical jet collision in Massachusetts? Our team of aviation safety advocates is here for you. We care deeply that victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or are wondering how an attorney might be able to help with your particular situation, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at (855) 649-2674.