Rescuers suspend search for 6 onboard medical aircraft that crashed off US coast

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended active search operations for six people aboard a missing medical aircraft that crashed off the Nantucket coastline, officials said Oct. 4, 2026. The search covered about 4,445 miles over roughly 66 hours with help from partner agencies. Rear Admiral Matthew Lake, commander of the Northeast District, said halting a search is “not an easy decision,” while expressing condolences to families and gratitude to supporting partners. Crews had continued scanning the waters and looking for the aircraft’s flight recorder, but Lake said there was no indication the black box had been found among identified debris. Officials placed the debris field about 32 kilometers from shore, with water depths around 24 to 28 meters.