An air ambulance carrying six people has gone missing on a flight from Bermuda to Boston, officials confirmed Saturday. The US Federal Aviation Administration lost contact with the Gulfstream jet early in the morning, prompting the US Coast Guard to dispatch air and surface crews to search near Nantucket, Massachusetts.

The aircraft, registered to Latitude Air Ambulance, departed Bermuda's LF Wade International Airport overnight. Data from flight tracking website FlightAware indicated the plane was flying at 24,000 feet before descending rapidly shortly before contact was lost. The flight had originated from Bermuda at 12:41 a.m. local time.

Canada's Minister of Transport, Steven MacKinnon, stated on social media that four Canadians were among the six individuals on board the flight. He added that authorities are closely monitoring the situation and collaborating with relevant agencies as search and rescue efforts continue.

The National Transportation Safety Board is gathering information regarding the incident. Air traffic control audio revealed a controller asking the pilot if they were "coming in blind" before confirming the pilot was declaring an emergency just prior to losing contact with the aircraft.

The Bermuda government has been in communication with US authorities and the families of those on board. Premier David Burt expressed hopes for the safe recovery of all six individuals.

Latitude Air Ambulance, the company operating the jet, is based in Ontario, Canada, and specializes in medical evacuation services. The company has not yet released a statement regarding the missing aircraft.

The incident underscores the risks associated with air ambulance operations, particularly over open water. The swift descent prior to losing contact suggests a potential emergency situation that may have incapacitated the crew or compromised the aircraft's systems.

Further details regarding the cause of the disappearance and the ongoing search efforts are expected as the investigation progresses and more information becomes available from the involved agencies.